Again, Latoshi began to advance toward Antoshi, who stood there in a fear-struck panic. Latoshi's piercing green eyes stared intensely into his, as though Latoshi were looking into his soul.

"This is your last chance, Antoshi," he spoke quietly. "You either join me or you die. If I were you, I would choose the former." Antoshi trembled as Latoshi neared closer, when suddenly Fireball stepped up, halting Latoshi's advance.

"Leave him alone," Fireball angrily spoke up, gritting his teeth. Latoshi looked away from the domineering fire-type, over to Antoshi.

"Is that your decision, then?" he calmly asked. Antoshi swallowed nervously, unable to say anything. Latoshi sighed despondently. "I understand." He looked Antoshi in the eye and smiled, just before thrusting forward, shoving a fist into Antoshi's stomach with such force it caused the boy to fly back several meters before doubling over in pain. He gasped for air as he held his stomach, a look of intense pain and fear on his face. Fireball gasped in horror, quickly rushing to his friend's side.

"Look at you," Latoshi spat, "so pathetic. One little punch and you fall over. Are you going to cry?" Antoshi squinted his eyes, holding back the tears from his pain, so as not to prove Latoshi right. Fireball glared at the dark-haired boy, growling angrily.

"You're just like all the rest of the humans in this world," Latoshi remarked. "Weak. Cowardly. Self-centered. You waltz around in your perfect little world, wearing your clean clothes and your perfect haircut. You look like such a mama's boy. And what do I have? I was locked in a damned prison for two months, treated like an animal with no human contact. I had to steal my clothes. And worst of all, I can't remember anything from before then!" He grit his teeth, remembering the horrors of his previous experiences. "What the hell makes you so damn special?!"


"Stole your clothes?" Fireball wondered aloud, thinking back to the break-in at the clothing store and quickly put the pieces together. "You broke into that store! How could you do such a thing?!"

"Save your noble rhetoric," Latoshi snapped, apparently able to understand Fireball as well as Antoshi could. "It's survival of the fittest out there, so what if I stole some clothes? Your mama's boy trainer probably has dozens of pairs of clothes. What does he care as long as he's comfortable?"

"You shut up!" Fireball shouted, surprising Latoshi at the sudden outburst. "Antoshi is a good person! He would help anyone, even a horrible person like you!" Latoshi chortled.

"And that's just what makes him a weak human just like anyone else. Power isn't gained from being nice and helping people, it's gained from brute strength and intimidating your subjects. That's how you gain the loyalty of people the easy way — by making them fear you." Both Latoshi and Fireball turned to Antoshi.

"I haven't decided yet," Latoshi said, "whether or not to kill you." Antoshi looked at Latoshi with worry, able to breathe normally again. "Aside from your obvious power, there's something special about you. Something familiar. Maybe... you're someone I knew before I lost my memory." He suddenly became angry. "Why the hell can't I remember you, then?!" He shouted, grabbing fistfuls of his black hair. "I shook your hand and I saw something. The vision, it was... soothing. Familial. Perhaps... you and I, are brothers." The pair gasped in shock at the idea.

"No way!" Fireball quickly rebutted. "Antoshi would never be related to someone as heinous as you!"

"Put two and two together, you big moron," Latoshi angrily shot back. "We look nearly the same, have similar names. That can't just be some random occurrence."

"Maybe you made up the name 'Latoshi'! You said yourself you don't remember your life, how can you be sure that's your real name?" Latoshi turned away.

"You may be right," he quietly spoke. "I feel like it should be my name, but it's as though it's not what I've always been called. Even still..." He then turned back to the duo with a piercing glare. "That doesn't change the fact that you're not leaving here." The two best friends stared Latoshi down with blatant fear in their eyes.


As Latoshi continued to terrorize the duo, a young woman stood at the top of a tall hillock in the distance. Her bright, brown eyes observed them carefully from afar, watching the situation unfold. It was the same young woman Antoshi had run into in Goldenrod. Her long, brunette hair swayed in the same breeze that brought the thick, dark clouds overhead. She seemed quite interested in their confrontation, tapping the tip of an umbrella on the ground.

"I've decided I won't kill Antoshi," Latoshi said. "He's much too important to me. I need him to help me figure out the memories I've lost. However," he added, beginning to saunter toward the two, "I think I'll just torture him until he decides to join me." As he neared, Fireball sprang to his feet, getting in-between him and his friend.

"Leave... him... alone," Fireball threateningly commanded. Latoshi looked up at him with an inquisitive glance.

"And what are you going to do about it, big man? Are you really going to hit a human?"

"You're not a human," Fireball scowled, "you're a monster!" Latoshi chuckled.

"If I'm a monster, what does that make you?" Fireball decided not to answer, keeping his stance firm, unwilling to let the mysterious boy harm his best friend again. Latoshi then gasped as he came up with a solution to his own question. "I know what that makes you! A weak, pathetic being just like your trainer." Fireball became furious while Latoshi just stood there and smirked confidently at him.

Fireball finally had enough of the boy's remarks, realizing he was a threat to everyone, especially his best friend. He threw his head back and huffed deeply, surprising Latoshi who realized he was preparing to attack. Fireball threw his head back down, launching a powerful Flamethrower attack at the boy. Latoshi barely managed to jump out of the way, but not before some of his clothes, the tips of his shoes and his hand were just barely burned by his attack. Latoshi stepped back, looking at his clothes and his hand in disbelief.

"You... you injured me," he incredulously remarked. He then grit his teeth, looking at the fire-type with an irate expression. "You're going to wish you were never born!" He rushed toward the Pokémon, growling angrily. Fireball was surprised by his quickness, unable to defend himself as Latoshi jumped up, about to kick the side of Fireball's head.

'Wait!' the voice in his head stopped him, causing him to completely freeze up and land harmlessly on the ground.

"What is it?" he impatiently asked. Fireball looked at him with a bewildered expression, wondering who he was talking to.

'I have a better idea for the Typhlosion. I've decided I'll let an old friend of mine handle him while you deal with the boy.'


"I don't need any help," Latoshi spat, keeping his eyes locked on Fireball.

'That's not your call,' the voice shot back. Latoshi scoffed and grit his teeth. Suddenly, the three of them felt an odd, ethereal presence. The image of a spirit, completely covered in darkness, appeared from the earth. The group watched cautiously as the spirit slowly formed itself into a long, four-legged apparition.

Its red and black eyes stared coldly into Fireball's, intimidating the much larger fire-type. It wagged its hook-tipped tail slowly, more of its features gradually becoming apparent until it was completely visible. The two friends gasped as they stared down the unnatural eyes of a Houndoom. It snarled a bit, twisting its neck from side to side, its neck bones audibly popping.

'Introduce them to your new friend,' the voice instructed Latoshi. 'His name is Lucent. He's been loyal to me for centuries.' Latoshi chuckled softly.

"I told you before," he replied, smirking confidently, "I don't need help. Especially not from this ugly mutt." Lucent snapped at Latoshi, shooting him a cold glare. Latoshi was not intimidated, staring down the dog with a icy glance of his own.

"Give me an excuse, mutt," he quietly berated the dog. "I'll put you down myself." Lucent growled viciously, baring its incredibly sharp fangs at the boy.

'Enough!' the voice exclaimed. 'I care not for your petty differences, boy. You and Lucent are to work together. Is that clear?' Latoshi's eyes widened, matching the surreal color of Lucent's for just a short moment, before returning to normal.

"Very well," he calmly obliged. "If that's how you want it, I'll give the pup a chance." Fireball, still as confused as ever, began looking around for someone, unable to figure out who Latoshi was talking to. The voice used the distraction to their advantage and issued his command.


'Strike, Lucent,' he quickly instructed. Lucent reared back before lunging at Fireball, jaws open wide, sporting rows of razor-sharp teeth. Fireball noticed the advance at the last second, gasping in surprise, throwing his arm up to defend himself. Lucent's jaw clamped down on his arm, piercing his flesh with ease. Fireball shouted in agony as the dog began to shake its head back and forth, trying to dismember his taller opponent.

"Fire!" Antoshi exclaimed in shock, tears welling up in his eyes as he could see the blood trickling down his friend's arm. Fireball continued to scream and shout, eventually summoning a panicked Flamethrower attack, blasting the dog point blank in its face. Lucent growled, letting go of his prey as he reeled slightly from the attack, though not fazed much by it.

Fireball stumbled back, panting heavily. His injured arm trembled as it hung limp at his side. Fire grit his teeth, trying to bear the pain, ignoring the flowing blood that trickled down to the grass. He knew the fight with Lucent was no simple Pokémon battle — it was a fight to stay alive.

"Fire..." Antoshi whimpered, feeling a sense of helplessness and agony. He'd never seen his friend injured so badly before. Fireball sucked up the pain however, giving his friend a confident smirk.

"I'm fine, Antoshi," he reassured the boy. "I promise I'll protect you." Tears streamed down Antoshi's face. The way things were going, it was clear that Fireball was not going to survive the battle. Lucent shook the excess soot off of its fur which was greyed with age. Despite how old it appeared to be, Lucent was still as strong and limber as any other Houndoom, if not stronger.

"What's the deal with Fido's horns?" Latoshi coldly spoke, referencing Lucent's horns. They were visibly cut and chipped, one of its horns broken in half.

'Lucent has seen many, many battles,' the voice replied. 'In its life, and its afterlife,' he added with an amused chuckle. Latoshi chortled.

"An undead demon dog," he remarked with some interest. "He's still useless."

'Bite your tongue, boy,' the voice snapped. 'Lucent is a priceless asset to us. It will rip this Typhlosion apart with ease.'

"Nothing I couldn't do myself," Latoshi muttered, narrowing his eyes at the demon dog.


Again, Lucent lunged itself at Fireball, jaws opened wide as it aimed for the Typhlosion's neck. Fireball hopped back with a loud grunt, staying far enough out of Lucent's reach. Lucent continued to lurch at the bigger Fireball, chasing him for a few moments until Fireball summoned up the strength for another Flamethrower. Lucent quickly countered with its own Flamethrower, causing the two equally-matched attacks to cancel each other out in an eruption of smoke.

Using it as a distraction, Fireball quickly instigated a Rollout attack, darting at his opponent. Lucent's eyes went wide, caught off guard from the sudden change of attack, but barely managed to jump over it. Just as Lucent landed back on its feet, Fireball spun around and shot even quicker at the demon dog. Lucent was unable to do anything but look on in shock as the lumbering fire-type's attack slammed into Lucent's side. The strike sent the dog flying a short distance away where it hit the ground hard, rolling over several times before coming to a halt where it lay on its side.

"Yeah, Fireball!" Antoshi cheered his friend on as he managed to prop himself up into a sitting position. Fireball hopped out of his ball form, wincing at the pain of his injured arm, but still having enough confidence to give Antoshi a thumbs-up with his good one. Antoshi slipped the backpack off of his back, continuing to watch his friend until he spotted Latoshi slowly advancing toward him.

"I knew Fido over there would be useless," Latoshi spoke, displaying a cocky smirk. "I guess I'll just have to do everything myself. Oh well, I was getting bored anyway." Fireball quickly positioned himself between his friend and Latoshi again, denying the malicious boy from stepping any further. Latoshi scoffed at the sight.


"Are we really going to do this again?" Latoshi exasperatedly asked. "You're far weaker now than the last time you stepped up to me. Even then you wouldn't stand a chance."

"We'll just see about that," Fireball angrily replied, keeping his stance firm. Latoshi stepped back, admiring Fireball's attitude.

"Well in that case I'll just--" Latoshi stopped as both he and Fireball glanced to the side just as Lucent sprang forth, tackling Fireball to the ground. Latoshi looked on with an incredulous gaze as Fireball struggled to keep Lucent's jaws away from his neck. He then burst into a fit of laughter.

"How convenient," he remarked. "The stupid dog is worth something after all." Unhindered, Latoshi then walked up to Antoshi, who gazed up at him with a troubled expression.

"While the pets play, you and I should have a chat," Latoshi said before roughly grabbing Antoshi's blond hair, pulling him to his feet as the boy cried out in pain. Latoshi just smirked, enjoying every bit of pain he inflicted on the other boy.

"I told you before, you're not leaving here alive. That is, unless you've decided to join me." Antoshi kept his gaze locked on Latoshi's eyes, swallowing nervously. "You've seen some of my power, but I've got lots more in the tank. Just imagine what hell we could rain down on the pathetic, selfish humans of this world. They're so lost within themselves. All they care about is themselves. They'd rather just sit around and get fat instead of doing anything productive. We should euthanize them all." Latoshi's expression turned twisted, a crazed grin on his face, frightening Antoshi. "Just imagine the look in their eyes before they die! The sorrow! The pleading!" He quickly hushed the tone of his voice. "But no, we won't give them mercy. We'll kill them all slowly. Painfully. Then once they're all gone, our glorious new world will be born! So, what do you say?"

"No!" Antoshi quickly shouted, tears running down his face at the prospect of Latoshi's twisted dream of a new world. "You're a terrible person! I would never join you!" Latoshi scowled, taking offense to Antoshi's remarks. He suddenly shoved his knee into the boy's stomach, causing him to hunch over, the wind knocked out of him yet again. Immediately afterward, Latoshi brought his knee up again, nailing Antoshi under the chin, thrusting the helpless boy's body upward before he fell onto his back.

"I gave you yet another chance," Latoshi spoke, watching the other boy writhe in pain. "That's all the courtesy I'm going to extend to you."


He kicked the boy's side hard, causing him to shout as he was sent rolling over the ground several times. Latoshi scoffed at his prey.

"You've probably never been in a fight your whole life, you weak little mama's boy," he remarked. "What happened to that power you were supposed to have? I haven't seen it yet. I mean, I can sense it in you, but you've not used it. Why? Are you afraid to fight me? Or is it you're just as weak as I think you are?" Antoshi gave no response other than the dry coughs emanating from his throat and the groans of pain as he held his stomach.

Latoshi was becoming annoyed with the other boy, wanting to see the extent of Antoshi's power, if there was any left to be seen. He walked up to Antoshi yet again, pressing his foot against the boy's chest, slowly applying more and more pressure. Antoshi yelled in pain, trying in vain to pull Latoshi's foot off of him.

"I want you to fight me, damn it," he angrily spat. "Unless you like having broken ribs, I suggest you get up and show me your power! Otherwise it won't be hard for me to decide to kill you." Latoshi pulled his foot away, giving Antoshi a chance to get to his feet. He then scowled as he watched Antoshi simply roll onto his side, hugging his chest. "Damn you," he muttered, extending an open palm toward Antoshi, beginning to summon a ball of energy.

'Wait,' the voice stopped Latoshi, causing him to lose focus on the energy in his hand. 'The boy's Pokémon....' he trailed off, leaving Latoshi to figure out what he meant. Once he did, a sinister smile came across his lips.

"I've a better idea, Antoshi," he spoke before he reached down and roughly grabbed Antoshi's head, forcing him to look at Fireball. He and Lucent were still deadlocked, Fireball constantly trying to keep Lucent away with what strength he had left. "Before I kill you, I'll let you watch me kill your friend." Antoshi gasped in horror as Latoshi began to calmly saunter over to Fireball. Antoshi quickly reached out, grabbing Latoshi's ankle.

"Please, no!" he insisted in a raspy voice. Latoshi frowned and callously kicked the boy in the forehead, drawing another shout of pain from the blond boy as well as relieving the grip from his ankle. He continued to walk up to Fireball. Antoshi was able to do nothing but watch.


"Move it, mutt," Latoshi harshly commanded, causing the demon dog to growl at the boy but decided to back off for the moment. Latoshi's lips curled into a twisted smile as he stomped Fireball's gut, knocking the wind out of him as he had done with Antoshi twice before. Fire's eyes went wide, curling up to hug his stomach as he gasped for air. Antoshi's eyes flooded with tears, unable to withstand the sight of Latoshi harming his friend.

"Stop it!" Antoshi shouted, but neither Latoshi nor Lucent paid him any mind. Latoshi tilted Fireball onto his back again with the heel of his shoe, before stomping again on his chest.

"No!" Antoshi shouted again.

"Ah, this is fun," Latoshi remarked in a lighthearted tone, watching Fireball writhe in pain just like Antoshi was before. "I could just stomp your neck next. Not enough to break your spine, I mean that would kill you immediately. No, just enough to crush your windpipe. It'll be a lot more fun to see your expression when you try to breathe only to realize you can't." He then shot an arrogant smirk to the blond boy. "You should know exactly what he's feeling right now. I mean, since I just did the same to you and all." Antoshi huffed and sobbed at the sight of his friend in such pain.

"You both have such heart," Latoshi spat, "so unwilling to die. But that's what makes you such great punching bags." He then turned his attention to Lucent. "Come on, Fido. Help me out here. Let's see how many more of his ribs we can break." Lucent calmly trotted over to the opposite side of Fireball as Latoshi began kicking the Typhlosion's back. Lucent used the forward momentum to headbutt him back to Latoshi.

Antoshi continued to watch in horror as they treated Fireball like a game of ping-pong. He heard Fireball's constant shouts of agony as the two evil beings would not let up. He then saw Latoshi throw his head back, laughing hysterically as he found Fireball's suffering to be nothing more than a joke.


For a short moment, all Antoshi could see were memories of his friend. Since as far back as he could remember, Fireball was a huge part of his life, if not the biggest. He was his friend through thick and thin, always there by his side no matter what. He would do anything to help Antoshi — lift his spirits, give him someone to confide in and most importantly, protect the boy no matter what. Antoshi knew he needed to be the same friend to Fireball as he was to him all those years. Fireball needed his help, and Antoshi was the only person who could protect him.

Suddenly, all Antoshi could hear was his own heart beating. Latoshi continued to cackle at Fireball's suffering, but it was muted, as were Fireball's cries of pain. He began to shake angrily, clenching his teeth and his fists as his eyes, flooded with tears, began to glow with a purple aura. The same aura that began to slowly envelop his frame, pumping newfound strength into his muscles, giving him more than enough energy to slowly get to his feet.

Antoshi had seen and endured enough. He was not going to let Latoshi trample all over him and his friend and get away with it. He would not allow Latoshi to enact his plan to slaughter innocent people and attempt to take over the world. Latoshi's reign of madness may well have begun with Antoshi, but Antoshi was going to make sure it ended with him as well. Latoshi needed to be stopped.

'What in the world?' the voice wondered aloud, catching Latoshi's attention. 'The boy!' the voice exclaimed. Latoshi and Lucent quickly turned to see Antoshi on his feet. The pair were shocked, eyes wide as they saw his body surrounded with his aura. It flickered around him like a flame, similar to Latoshi's.

"What the--" were the only words Latoshi could utter before Antoshi let out an enraged shout, leaping with incredible speed toward the dark-haired boy before nailing him on the cheek with a tightly-balled fist as he approached. The force sent Latoshi flying backwards helplessly, colliding with a tree before breaking it in half. The sable-haired boy continued to soar through the air until he hit the ground hard, rolling several times to a stop where he laid.

Antoshi's focus quickly turned to Lucent, who had no idea what to do after seeing Latoshi so easily disposed off. Antoshi gave another shout, thrusting his arm out toward the demon dog, using nothing more than the wind's velocity to send Lucent flying a couple dozen meters away where he too hit the ground and rolled to a stop.

The young woman at the top of the hill seemed impressed by Antoshi's assault. She hummed curiously, becoming more and more intrigued by him. Both Latoshi and Lucent lay silent and seemingly lifeless as Antoshi quickly knelt down to check on his friend.


"Fire..." he whispered in disbelief, his friend's body dirtied and bloodied, never imagining they would be drawn into such a horrific battle. Fireball opened his eyes, his mouth drawing back into a grin as he realized his best friend was by his side.

"Hey... Antoshi," he weakly uttered, looking away for a moment to cough. Fireball coughed up droplets of blood which worried Antoshi even more.

"You're hurt," he quietly remarked.

"Nothing I can't handle," he casually replied, laughing weakly. "I'm just sorry I couldn't protect you, my friend."

"It's not your fault," Antoshi quickly rebutted. The duo stared at each other for just a moment before Antoshi continued. "It's my turn to protect you, buddy." Fireball could see the aura glowing brightly around his blond-haired friend's frame, smiling happily as he knew only good things have come from its appearance. He gave Antoshi a nod.

"Give those jerks all ya got," he said, grinning widely, drawing a soft chuckle from Antoshi.

Just then, they heard a rumbling overhead. The dark clouds had long moved in over them. It would likely rain soon. But their attention was drawn away from the weather as they suddenly heard a loud, enraged shout. The duo quickly looked over and saw Latoshi propped up on one knee, staring wrathfully at Antoshi. His body shook with anger as his dark aura began to emerge from his body, flickering around him like Antoshi's. Antoshi got to his feet, knowing there was no way out of the situation other than to confront Latoshi. Now that Antoshi's initial anger had died down, he swallowed nervously, uncertain of what to expect from a completely irate Latoshi.