"Woah." I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Violet City was rustic and traditional, its pavement and rooftops a dark burgundy color. A large, gleaming tower rose high into the sky, its tiered sections standing proudly on top of one another. Elegant wooden bridges arched over a large, rippling lake, leading up to the majestic tower. The sun shone onto the city, giving it an eerie, mysterious feel.
I walked, trancelike, through the city. People nodded at me as they passed, walking briskly to their various destinations. I passed over the bridges, running my hand along the smooth, polished wood. When I reached the middle of the lake, I leaned over and checked out my reflection.
The water was crystal clear, and I could see all the way to the bottom of the lake. Aquatic plants swayed underwater, and magikarp passed by, blowing bubbles that streamed to the surface. I stared into my reflection, and I was surprised at what I saw. Instead of the nervous version of Regina, I saw something different. My face resembled something like a mix of hurt, anger, and sadness- I was heartbroken.
"Hey, guess who decided to de-hermit?" a rough voice taunted, and I felt a hand on my shoulder, jerking my up. I whipped around to face a cyan haired female, her dark eyes malicious and mocking. Her long, luscious hair shone in the harsh light, and curled perfectly down her shoulder. I felt like I should've known her, but I couldn't place where I knew her from.
"Who are you?" I asked, my mind racing. Obviously, she didn't like me very much. The girl sneered, and put her hands on her hips.
"Uh, don't you keep the names of all the people you've defeated in a notebook?" she taunted. Scrunching up her face, she whined, "I'm sooo honored to go down in your book as defeated!"
I frowned. "I stopped that habit six years ago," I said defensively. "And who are you?"
The girl smiled. "Skytha," she said, offering her hand. I made to shake it, but she quickly withdrew it. "And it's not cool to meet you again. I guess your parents finally got sick of you."
I raised my eyebrows, fighting to keep calm. "Excuse me?" I asked, my voice climbing. "I think I was the one who got sick of my parents."
Skytha rolled her eyes. "You don't remember me? I'm that girl who you defeated six years in a row during the Johto Junior Championship Finals. My name went into that book of yours six times, duh." She said it like I was supposed to have remembered her.
To my surprise (and hers) I laughed. "Do you think I remember something that happened years ago?" I chuckled. "Funny." I started to walk away, but she whipped out a lasso and looped it neatly around my arm.
"Can't escape," she hissed, leaning in close to me. "I've been waiting for years to get a rematch, and when Regina the Hermit finally shows up outside her house, I can't resist another battle." Yanking my arm, she led me into the tower, slamming the doors shut.
"Where are we?" I asked irritably, as I was half walked, half yanked up the tower's floors. Skytha looked back at me, and laughed.
"I forgot you were shut in your house with no life," she taunted. "Well, listen up, this is Sprout Tower. It's dedicated to the Bellsprout and peaceful whatever and other shit like that. Famous for it's pillar in the middle." To emphasize her point, she knocked loudly on the huge, thick pillar swaying in the middle of the floor.
"The pillar can withstand earthquakes, and it's supposed to be made of a 100 foot Bellsprout. All BS, if you ask me."
Just then, an elderly man swathed in purple robes walked up to us. "This tower is dedicated to the peaceful nature of Bellsprout," he said. His voice was whymsical and it sounded like chiming bells. "May I demonstrate to you the power of peace and tranquility?"
I was about to nod yes, because I was pretty curious, but Skytha rolled her eyes. "Come on, Pop, stop preaching all your hippie shit over there. I've got a battle." She knocked him over and stomped off.
"You're being very peaceful," I noted as she tramped up the delicate ladders. She forced a laugh.
"As peaceful as one can be when she needs revenge," she said roughly, dragging me up the last ladder. My head peeked over the edge, and I gasped.
A large, open room greeted me. Monks, sitting in prayer position, were in the middle of a ritual. The feeling of calmness spread out through the area. And that feeling of tranquility, obviously, was destroyed by Skytha.
"Hey, you assholes!" she shrieked. The monk's heads snapped up, and they eyed the two of us.
The man leading the rituals spoke. "Miss, if you'd please, lower your voice," he said softly. The other monks nodded in agreement.
Skytha rolled her eyes. "Lower, schmower, you guys are just sleeping on the job," she scoffed. "Now, clear out the area. I want it."
The monk stood up. "Miss, this is a traditional place dedicated to our rituals and teachings," he said, a little more firmly. "Unfortunately, you must leave now."
Skytha faked a laugh. "Leave?" she asked incredulously. "Why, nobody's ever told me no to anything."
I came to the obvious conclusion that Skytha had lost her marbles.
Fingering a pokeball, she growled. "Go." A houndoom burst from her pokeball, and landed on all floors, snarling. The men instinctively (and smartly) backed up against the wall. Skytha smirked.
"Fire against grass? Doesn't look too good now, eh? Hah!" she cackled, her whole body screaming I am a maniac and I know it!
I curled my fist. If Skytha decided to blow fire, she'd burn down the whole tower. Unfortunately, my hands and feet were tightly bound by rope. I was helpless.
The men cowered, huddled together. The leader spoke up. "Fine, Miss, we'll take our leave," he said. "But we shall bring about this curse on you- may you never find peace!" As if on cue, a bolt of lightning flashed outside. I started. It wasn't even raining, and the sky was clear.
The men stood as a unit and bolted down the stairs. Skytha returned her pokemon and faced me, triumphant. "They're chickens," she laughed. "Curses don't exist." Her face turned serious.
"Time to battle," she sneered. "And you're going down!" She snapped her fingers and my ropes untied, landing in a heap at my feet. Fingering another pokeball, she stroked her chin.
"Hmmmm, if I know you well, I can counter with this!" Quick as a flash, she threw the pokeball. An Infernape burst out, beating its chest. I felt my body stiffen, and my vision darken.
Not now, I chided myself. Not now.
Seeing my face, Skytha erupted in laughter. "What are you scared of?" she taunted, snickering. "You're the champion." She snapped her fist.
The Infernape leapt towards me, arm outstretched. I stood, paralyzed with fear, as it slowly changed into the ghost of my mother.
"Wake up," my mother hissed, and wrapped her bony hand around my throat, squeezing me. I gasped, and my mother disappeared, replaced with the Infernape. Infernape had its hand around my throat, and it was squeezing it... hard. I gagged, and felt my breath leaving me, like a deflating balloon.
"Hahaha!" Skytha chuckled. "Were you expecting an actual battle? No, I want more than a defeat. You were always a step ahead of me. You ruined my reputation. And now, people only remember me as the runner up of ALL my competitions." She paused, and got in my face. Her breath smelled like cloves and cilantro, not exactly the smell you're looking for when you're nauseous. I felt my face burn up.
Skytha leaned back. "I'm erasing you from existence. First, I'll choke you to death. Then, I'll burn this hellish place down, and pretend like your death was a terrible, yet necessary one. I'll say I tried to save you. Now, I'll be the heroine, not you! Good night, Regina. Sweet eternal dreams."
I was horrified. There were no onlookers, nobody that I could cry for help. I had no friends, nobody I could rely on. It was over. I opened my mouth to say my final parting words.
"That escalated quickly." I managed a weak smile. "You didn't have to go this far," I gasped. "But I accept my fate. There's no way out. Have fun living in your own delusional world."
I closed my eyes, bracing myself. I felt the last strains of air leave me, my heart slowing down.
Skytha roared with laughter. "Snuff her lights out, Infernape."
Infernape squeezed me tighter, and I found the energy to let loose one last unearthly howl.
And then, I heard it. His voice.
"Hey!" a new voice yelled. I felt a heavy object barrel into the Infernape, releasing me from its grip. I rolled over, gasping for breath. Skytha cried out in pain, and I heard a thud a few seconds after.
"Are you okay?" I opened my eyes, and a concerned, male face swam into view. His soft amber eyes complimented his spiky, raven hair, and his perfectly tanned skin blended in his sharp chin and nose.
"Who you?" I croaked, too weak to make full sentences.
The boy smiled. "I'm Gold, from New Bark Town," he replied. His smile was cocky and arrogant, enabling me to put his face to his description.
"Oh, the chick freak," I choked. Waves of pain washed over me, and I blacked out.