I gasp when I recognize the image forming from the red beam. No! It can’t be! It’s... it’s impossible!

The ball materializes a small, yellow rodent. From the size and the marks on his body I know who it is. It’s one that I know well.

"Pikachu..."

He doesn’t answer. He just sits right in front of Gary, waiting for the command to attack, looking right at me.

"Pikachu don’t you remember me?"

Silence.

"Pikachu please! Try to remember! You were once free!"

"Pikachu pi pikachu chu." *I only know of Master and his will for me.*

No...

A tear quietly slips down my cheek.

"How could you do this?! It’s inhuman to take a Pokemon’s will away!"

"It was simple really." he sneers. "I captured him, with this." he holds up the black and silver Pokeball. "During the days that I was taking over the Kanto and Johto regions I needed to invent something to intensify the evil side in Pokemon, to make them stronger and more obedient at the same time. I also need to make a special ball to capture any Pokemon, no matter how powerful, or even they already have an owner for that matter. And so, I invented this, the Horror Ball."

I shake my head in disgusts. "How did you become so cold Gary...? Even when you just started Pokemon training you loved Pokemon..."

He snaps back at me. "Pokemon are nothing! They are just my tools to become the best!" Without hesitating he yells. "Pikachu! Thunder! NOW!"

My eyes grow wide in terror. No! He wouldn’t! With my Thunder Storm increasing Pikachu’s Thunder, the attack would kill me!

"Piii... kaaa... CHUUU!" the yellow rodent yells at the top of his lungs. A huge bolt of lightning shoots from his body and it disappears into the clouds above me.

"Rose!"

I look for the source that called my name, I recognized the voice, even with out his face. Brock. I spot him on the ground level next to Ash, who is supporting Misty with his own body. Although I can not see his face I know what he is feeling. It is the same that I am feeling, intense fear.

My heart breaks then, not just because of Brock, because I lost so much in my life that I know I will never have the chance of getting back again. I lost so many people... even Pikachu... to Gary...

... and I can’t do anything...

The clouds above me rumble loudly, then it happens.

The bolt strikes me. Through out my body the electricity flows, but instead of filling me, I can feel it destroy me. My body going into shock from the power that was released onto me.

After what seemed like years of pain to me, it stops.

With all of my strength drained from me, I start to fall…

I roughly land on the cold cement of the roof. With my hardly any energy left in me, my breathing becomes labored.

A shadow falls on me.

"Admit it Thorn, you failed. Your pathetic excuse of a Final Battle was nothing to me, it didn’t even entertain me. And because of your death, your puny little friends will die, and I will rule everything!"

I look up at him calmly. "You forgot one thing Gary."

A fierce growl grows on his face. "And what is that Loser?"

I give a faint smile, then close my eyes in concentration. "You lose."

His eyes narrow at me in attempt to understand but then widen. My body was glowing in a fierce light.

I was powering up for my last attack. Explosion…

@---}-----

A dagger spears my heart as I see the top of the radiotower explode... I couldn’t save her…

Miraculously her body flies into the air from the mighty force of the explosion. When it stops after several minutes of torture, I hold my breath, hoping that Rose still had enough energy to keep her up, that and that she was still alive.

I start as I see her body started to plunge to the ground. Sprinting, I try to maneuver myself below her body, hoping of catching her before she met the earth.

She finally falls into my arms and I fall from the impact. I set her down gently on the ground with my arms cradling her.

@---}-----

"Rose?" My eyes flutter at the sound of my name.

"She’s alive!" "Rose! Are you okay?!"

"Rose?"

It’s his voice again. I slowly open my eyes and I see Brock, holding me in his arms. I give him a small smile.

"Brock... you’re alright... and I saved everyone…"

He nods. "Yea, and so will you." he shifts me in his arms for a moment. I cringe from the pain.

I close my eyes again. "No... I won’t Brock..."

He looks at me with a mixture of question and frantic worry. "What? No, you’re going to be alright."

I look up into his eyes. "Brock, I’m... I’m dying..."

"No..."

Silence fills the air, no one stirring. The only things that existed was Brock, holding me in his arms, and the inevitable.

"Brock... I need to tell you something..."

He wipes some blood from my lip. "What?"

"That... even though I only met you a few days ago I know."

"Know what?"

"I know... deep down in my heart... I love you Brock... and I always will..."

A small smile appears on face and he places a hand on mine. "And I loved you ever since I first laid eyes on you."

A tiny, mischievous smile appears on mine. "But that happens with every girl..."

His grin widens. "Shows how little you know about me."

My body suddenly lurches forward in pain and I fall back into Brock’s lap. It’s time.

I close my eyes. "Brock, please... never forget me..." I place my hand in his slightly larger hand, our fingers intertwine. "I love you..."