It's amazing how time flies.

Like the rain pouring down my face, it's relentless. The most precious moments can end, sharp as a flash, while the nightmares groan on for eternity...

I stared up into the pitch black, pleading for some hope—a shred of light—as if it would be a sign that everything would be ok—all I received were bolts of flame, a pathetic fallacy to this incessant hell.

-BOOM-

I closed my eyes, losing myself in the reverberating din of the thunder chasing after its instant companion who, absorbed only in its dance, struck down all around us.

I steady my breathing and opened my eyes to the sting of wind and rain, looking ahead of Feraligatr and dead in the eyes of my opponent.

"It never had to co—"

"It did"

"There has to be—"

"No"

"But I—"

"Stop. Just. Stop. We're ending this and we're ending this now. So shut up... Shut up and FIGHT ME! ENERGY BALL!"

Feraligatr cocked his head, eyes glistening, yet anxious for a command. Thank Arceus it's raining...

"Che, Feraligatr... ICE PUNCH!"

Feraligatr launched himself at his foe; his body snaked along the ground like a bullet-train with dexterity. Everything happened instantly—the air around his claws swirling powder white as he summoned the force of a concentrated avalanche, his fist smashing into his opponent's torso, the eruption of concrete dust caused by 221.6lbs being pounded into the ground—all in a single breath.

I let relief creep into me as the downpour washed away the dust. That hit had to have ended this, there was no way it hadn't—fuck! Why am I still so naive?!

They were hurt, gasping, struggling to stand, but they were still on their feet. I had completely forgotten about the Reflect they set up earlier. The pink barrier had absorbed most of Feraligatr's strike.

With a roar of retaliation they whipped their Energy Ball right into Feraligatr's face, knocking him clear on his back. The explosion of force was punctured only by Feraligatr's cry.

I screamed out at my partner, begging for him to get back up. We had come so far we couldn't stop here and let it all end like this. A grin shot across my face as Feraligatr staggered to his feet, a blue aura enveloping his body—Torrent.

We're still in this. We can still win!

Those thoughts ran through my mind like a looped highlight reel. One final attack would be all we need. I was gambling everything on Feraligatr's Torrent and Mystic Water.

"WATERFALL!" "LEAF STORM!"

Lightning encircled us as our attacks collided with one another, exploding with a fury. The world lit up in searing white light as smoke and light blanketed the sky. I struggled to keep my eyes open as wave after wave of backlash beat into me. I tried to stand my ground but it was too strong. The gales ripped me off my feet and discarded me like a rag doll.

I never felt when my head hit the concrete. I only remember the panic of losing sight of the battle field, the overwhelming worry suffocating me like a noose as I struggled to see something amidst the searing white, followed by dark—mind-suffocating dark.

I was a candle whose wick had just been snuffed.

But that's when it all came flooding back in a gush of light.

The joy, the pain, the sweat, tears, victory, defeat...I relived it all.

Every single moment since the day I had finally started my journey, to this twilight-zone hell.

Like Scrooge prisoner to the spirits of time, I watched and searched. Trying to figure out where it all went wrong, what I could've done better, critiquing what I didn't do as much as what I did...

I was lost...

Lost in my personal heaven and hell.