"Scyther, please…" Bugsy pleaded.

"Scyther!" The Pokemon screamed in protest.

"Y-you…you have to…I can't do it myself," the green-haired trainer sniffled.

The Pokemon shook its head.

"But you have to. Cutting takes away the pain and I promised Falkner that I wouldn't do it anymore. But you can. He never said anything about one of my Pokemon doing it for me. Just please, Scyther?"

The Pokemon looked straight at Bugsy with desperation. His trainer became suddenly enraged.

"Do it, Scyther! Use Cut!"

Scyther, being the obedient creature that he was, obeyed instantly, without even thinking. Bugsy screamed out as the pain rushed through his arm. The blade of the bug Pokemon was much sharper and cut deeper than any razor ever could have. And Bugsy reveled in the pain. A sensation of relief washed over him.

He let out a sigh and muttered, "Good job, Scyther. Return."

A red beam of light engulfed the mantis and it was returned to its Pokeball.

"Ahhh…oooh…that feels so good…" But Bugsy knew that he was just kidding himself. He knew that it didn't feel good. It hurt. A lot. He had obviously underestimated the strength of his Pokemon's silver blade. Blood poured out of his arm at a rapid pace, dousing the floor in a pool of crimson liquid.

Bugsy let out a demented chuckle as he looked down and saw the reflection of a broken boy staring back at him. Nothing was okay anymore. Ever since Falkner had left him, his whole world had swiftly fallen apart.

~ 2 months prior ~

"I'm sorry Bugsy, I just can't do this anymore."

"W-what?" the smaller boy said, his voice trembling severely.

"Us. This isn't going to work."

"D-did…did I do something wrong?"

"No, it's just…I found somebody else."

Bugsy just nodded. "Okay. I understand." But he really didn't. Bugsy didn't understand what he had done wrong. Had he been too clingy? Too prude? Maybe Falkner wanted to be with somebody he could actually have a serious battle with? He knew that he lost every time, because bug Pokemon just couldn't put up a fight against flying ones.

Bugsy sniffled and pushed himself away from his now ex-boyfriend. "Bye."

"Hey, before you go, can you promise me one thing first?"

"What?" Bugsy peeped.

"Don't hurt yourself, okay? I know you have those…self-destructive tendencies and stuff. Just don't do that to yourself, okay?"

Bugsy just slightly nodded and turned to walk back to the gym.

He heard behind him the signature sound of a Pokemon being released from its Pokeball and the cry of a Pidgeot. "Come on," Falkner spoke, "Let's get going to Ecruteak!"

Bugsy just sat in silence, staring at the pool of blood in front of him. Another demonic chuckle escaped his lips.

"I hope you're happy, Falky. You did this to me." He chuckled. "Gosh, I love loopholes."

The room started to spin.

"Wow, this is fun. I should have Scyther help me more often," he laughed again.

So what if cutting wasn't the healthiest thing in the world? It brought him comfort, and that's all that mattered.