Chapter Seventy Three: A Test Too Far

It was decided the Cycling Road would be their battleground. Jack said he did not want the guards to interfere, since battling was not allowed inside the picnic area. It was banned from the bridge as well, as a large sign warned them as they stepped inside, but the bikers did not mind fighting here: it was out of sight, cut off from the rest of the world, a place where anything could happen.

Alaska and Sandy went first, walking side by side in silence. Alaska was annoyed with herself, for letting her guard down for even a short time. Now they were trapped, confined to another round of torture: she could hear the sound of Darwin groaning as he was dragged along by the bikers, each cry like a knife to her chest. She wanted to do something, anything, but Alaska knew this situation was impossible, not when they were outnumbered and outgunned like this.

Stepping onto the Cycling Road was like entering another world. The concrete path led directly onto five lanes, one for walking down the middle and the rest for bikes, with a dome of green tinged glass forming overhead. It was filled with an intense silence, every noise and movement being echoed back to them. Alaska could hear her own heart beat as though it was outside her body. The silence simply made her more tense, and a brief glance at Sandy showed she felt the same way.

"Stop." The word rang out echoing from all sides. Alaska stopped and turned in a single movement. The bikers were all stretched out in a row, covering the entire road: there was no going back the way they had come, only about two kilometres of road behind them leading to freedom.

If we tried to run, they would catch up to us in seconds. They have no reason to keep me alive, to prolong my death like Buzz or Gideon. It would all be over in a second. I could let them kill me, end it all, but then… what would happen to him…

Through the sea of black and greasy hair, Darwin and his scarlet stained fur stood out like a lighthouse amongst darkness. Alaska met his eyes again, looked into the anger and hatred that burned in his gaze as normal, but there was a weakness, a pain that had never been there before. Whatever they had done to him Alaska could not bear to think about, but she knew she could not leave him to suffer further at their hands.

"Eyes on me, bitch." Darwin winced as a leather boot slammed into the back of his head, sending him tumbling to the floor. Jack began the chorus of laughter as he stepped forwards, PokeBalls in hand, but Alaska simply blocked their cackles out, refusing to let them in further.

"Are we battling or not?" she called out, and Jack flashed back a smile.

"Cool yourself, love, you left this one behind months ago, a few more minutes won't hurt – that is, of course, if you win," he added, winking and setting off a fresh burst of laughter. Instinctively, Alaska's eyes flickered back to Darwin, who was struggling to even bend his legs to get back up. The sight made her sick, but she pushed the thought away, stopping it before she got any angrier. I just need to battle, I just need to win, and then we can all move on…

"Ok youse, here's the rules: double battle, two Pokémon, whoever loses both Pokémon first loses, no substitutes. No restrictions, no referee – this is a free for all, winner takes it all. You fine with that?"

"Yes."

"Direct, I like that in a woman," Jack sneered. "You send first."

"Paige, Nadia, go!" Alaska yelled. Jack seemed taken aback, watching the two PokeBalls spiral and hit the floor as though they were grenades she had just thrown at him. You don't deserve any wit, Alaska thought bitterly, glowering through her forming Pokémon and staring down the creature that stood opposite her. I am not wasting any breath giving you the time of day. I want this over, and I want to win.

"Pidgey!" Paige's squawk brought Alaska back to earth, and she looked up, finding the Bird Pokémon fluttering in mid-air as she stared down at Darwin. The Primeape raised his head at her cry, meeting the eyes of his former training partner, and another layer of his pain and innocence was revealed.

"Way to be original," Jack sneered. "Really didn't see that one coming. Let's see how they fair against these two!" It might have been because she was not truly paying attention, but it seemed to Alaska as though Jack's Pokémon appeared out of nowhere. Suddenly, an oozing, dripping pile of grey and lavender sludge was secreting beneath Paige, while a bipedal blue and white Pokémon stood its ground opposite Nadia, glaring down at her while red ears flopped over its eyes. It took Alaska a moment to recognise the latter, and then, just for a moment, she laughed.

"An Azumarill? Really? Doesn't exactly seem your type."

"You'd be surprised," Jack purred back, but there was little humour in his voice now. Alaska knew that the battle was truly on now: putting the joking aside, the biker wanted to win just as much as she did. Why, she didn't know, but there was something dark about her latest antagonist, and Alaska wasn't going to let him get his final wish.

"Quick Attack Azumarill and Ice Beam on Muk!" She bellowed. The last sniggers from the row of bikers died instantly, and Alaska felt Sandy seize up beside her: the battle had begun, and everyone present wanted to see how it ended.

"Pidge Pidge!" Paige cried, and she shot forwards in a white blur, rocketing towards the opponents. Azumarill smiled, blue lips spreading slightly in an evil smirk, and Alaska quickly dreaded moving first.

"Seismic Toss, throw Muk towards her!" Jack roared. Azumarill lunged for her partner, letting Paige swoop by wings barely brushing against her, and blue hands grasped onto a slippery part of the Sludge Pokémon.

"AZUUUU!" The Water type growled, and she spun, heaving up Muk and twirling him around. Desperately, Nadia fired her Ice Beam, but Azumarill was moving too fast, the blue beam hitting a motorbike instead. Alaska's eyes flickered from the failed move back to Paige, and she watched in curious horror as Azumarill let go, grey-purple sludge flying through the air.

"MUUUUUUUK!" The Poison type moaned deeply, and before Paige could move she was hit, crashing into the roof engulfed by Muk. Wide, sunken white eyes appeared in the sludge, and Muk spread a goofy smile as he clung to the glass, body shaking as Paige struggled to get free.

"Twister, free yourself! And try another Ice Beam on Azumarill!"

"Body Slam and Mega Punch!" Jack's voice rang with confidence as he shouted his command, and he smirked at Alaska as the second match up began. He's not afraid of me, he doesn't want anything from me, he just wants to defeat me, Alaska thought, fists clenched as she looked across the battlefield. She so rarely battled people she knew nothing about that this was going to be a strange and unsettling experience, and already Alaska had to ask herself what she'd gotten into.

"Ran Ran Ran!" Nadia dug her feet into the tarmac and blasted out a second Ice Beam; it struck Azumarill squarely in the stomach, making her skid backwards, but after a few moments of wincing the Aqua Rabbit Pokémon leapt forward, letting the attack disperse. Nadia saw the fist coming in and jumped back, letting the punch hit the ground and crack the tarmac, but Azumarill didn't stop there, spinning and bringing another two blows down.

"Get away from her; don't let her hit you!" Alaska yelled, trying to judge what would happen next, but a screech and a bellow drew her attention to the ceiling; she watched as Muk let go, hurtling towards the ground and landing squarely on a still stuck Paige, his body flattening out and trapping her beneath his gut.

"Come on Paige, Twister! And hit Azumarill with Crunch," Alaska added. Nadia nodded and leapt forwards with her open mouth spread in a smile, biting down hard on Azumarill's ball-topped tail.

"Azu!" she roared, brought down to her knees by the single blow. Alaska smiled and looked up to Jack, taking pleasure in watching his face sink. The biker looked away from Azumarill and back to Muk a few metres way, watching as he struggled to hold on. There was a wriggling lump right beneath his face, and gooey arms flailed as he tried to bat it away. Alaska watched tensely, waiting for the moment she knew so well by now….

"PIDGE!" Her voice was muffled but still came out loud, and Muk suddenly went hurtling again as a blue spiral erupted beneath him. Sandy quietly whooped as the Sludge Pokémon was sent spinning, crashing into the barrier and nearly toppling over onto the road below. It was a moment of pleasure, but even as she revelled in it, Alaska knew it would not last, forcing her joy down as she prepared for Jack's next order.

"Sludge Wave towards the Nidorina, Scald on her flying rat!" Alaska cursed and Jack's smile grew. There was a grunt, and suddenly purple slime was oozing across the field. Alaska could watch as Muk suddenly launched himself forwards, a flying pile of sludge slipping across the pitch. With the speed of a car, Muk whacked Nadia right off Azumarill's tail, sliding her away and giving his team mate a clear shot at Paige.

"AZUUUUUU!" Azumarill screamed, opening her mouth wide. Alaska winced as the stream of hot water hit the Twister: the blue energy exploded, and Paige dropped a metre before steadying herself.

"Scald her again, and Muk, you use Mud Bomb!" Jack bellowed, and the Pokémon were off before Alaska could even think of an order. Thankfully, Paige swerved and let the Thunderbolt smash against the glass roof, but Nadia was trapped within Muk's toxic grasp. Her angry cries sounded from all around as Muk opened his dripping mouth wide and spat up a squirming brown ball.

"NIDO!" Nadia growled as the mud exploded against her, completely coating her skin in brown.

You will have to learn how to adapt to the situation and fight properly, without the time to set up elaborate schemes

"I know, I know!" Alaska cursed under her breathe, trying to push away the memory of Sabrina's voice as it echoed throughout her mind. She felt Sandy staring at her, and the two briefly locked eyes: her friend was clearly worried, her face pale and her hands clutched to her chest.

"Don't worry, I've got this under control," Alaska whispered.

"I don't think you do," Sandy hissed fearfully back. "You can't let them win, Alaska, not when we have no idea what they are after."

"I know, I know!" Alaska replied irritably, turning back to the battle with guilt weighing heavily on her conscience. "Aerial Ace on Azumarill, and… and… Ice Beam on the field!"

"Yotto Pidge Pidgey!" Paige cried, swooping down with her wings thrust out. She cut across Azumarill's stomach, sending her flying and crashing into Muk. The Sludge Pokémon slid back, his grasp on Nadia lessening and letting her jump away towards Alaska. Landing on her hind legs, Nadia spun and fired the Ice Beam instantly: thin blue ice quickly coated the battle field, spreading like a virus across the surface, surrounding Azumarill and Muk were they stood.

"Did you think that was going to stop me?" Jack snarked, not even allowing Alaska a moment of relief. "Scald, now!"

"AZUUUU!" Azumarill cried, stepping past Muk, and Alaska felt her jaw drop as the steaming water soared out of her mouth. The ice melted in seconds, a minute stream of water forming and sliding down the narrow slope of the road. Nadia's feet were quickly soaked, and Alaska looked up and met Jack's eye, the viciousness in his glare confirming her fears.

"Thunderbolt!"

"JUMP! CATCH HER, PAIGE!"

Paige dived down talons first, and Nadia leapt up to greet her as Muk's toxic body flashed yellow. Alaska breathed a sigh of relief as Paige pulled up the same moment he fired, Nadia safely off the ground and scrabbling up her ally's back. Stepping back to avoid the sparking ground, Alaska felt a bitter taste of bile in the back of her throat.

They want strategy? Here's a bloody strategy for them.

"Paige, use Heat Wave!" She bellowed. "And Nadia, prepare yourself – you know what for." The Nidorina smiled malevolently and tensed herself up, focussing down on her enemies below. Paige, meanwhile, began to glow orange, and seconds later flapped her wings: the air turned orange, a haze appearing between Alaska and Jack, and cries from his Pokémon sounded as the blast of heat washed over them, huddled together in their corner.

"NOW NADIA!"

"NIDOOOO!" Nadia yelled, and she launched herself forwards. The Heat Wave had barely cleared before she hit Azumarill squarely with Skull Bash, the attack coming completely unexpected. Azumarill crashed into Muk, and Nadia pushed both Pokémon down the field so they crashed into the barrier, the Poison type getting smothered by his Water ally.

Everything had happened so quickly Alaska hardly had time to process. Now, silence fell over the battlefield as everyone paused and evaluated. Steam hung in the air from the evaporated water, a veil rising between Alaska and Jack. Azumarill and Muk were piled atop each other to the side of the field, looking dazed, tired and worn. Paige and Nadia were not in top condition either, but Alaska was relieved to see both her Pokémon appeared able to keep battling, their attacks doing little to wear them down.

I can win this, what was I so afraid of? Alaska thought to herself, and she let a smile creep onto her face. She glanced across the pitch, her eyes meeting Jack's, and the look on his face made it clear she had made a mistake.

"Do you think you will just defeat me and walk away, like it's just that easy?" The biker sneered. Alaska tensed up again, and as the steam cleared she remembered what exactly she had found herself in. Jack's gang and their bikes stood behind him like bodyguards, a row of black and metal ready to pounce at any second. Darwin lay at their feet, limp against the chains, too weary to even stand. It was clear, something Alaska should have known all along, that no matter who won the battle, Jack was still going to walk away from this encounter the victor.

What the fuck am I supposed to do? The storm clouds had gathered overhead, leaving the pitch dark and quiet. The rumble and roar of the cars below them could be heard over the tension between them. Paige and Nadia moved closer to Alaska, facing their foes, prepared to take a stand, but just what could Alaska do? Even if she threw Paige, Nadia, Frances and Shelley all at time, even if Sandy joined in with her Pokémon, who knew how many Pokémon Jack and his cronies had, or what they would do once they got their hands on them?

There has to be another way, some way we could escape. There is a road beneath us, Onix could tunnel through and help us escape… or the glass, maybe if we smashed… the bikes? Can I do someth – no, no Alaska, keep it out, for fuck's sake! None of that will work, not when they have Darwin – one wrong move and they could and would cut his throat.

Feeling the eyes of everyone, from Sandy to Jack to Paige to Azumarill, upon her, Alaska found herself inexplicably drawn to the one being not looking at her. Even in the semi-dark, she could clearly see how red and matted Darwin's fur was, with patches where there seemed to be known left. Just how tortured was he, how much damage had they inflicted on him in the last few weeks?

Look at him. Alaska heard the voice and shivered, wondering how long he had been there, how long he had been watching her. Long enough for him to know she had planned on tearing herself away, unable to bear looking at this defeated creature anymore. Look at him, and tell me what you see.

Pain, I see pain… pain and torture –

No, Alaska, that is just the surface. Look through the pain, look beyond it, look at the cause and the effect, what has to happen next.

What are you talking about?

You know what I mean, you just don't want to admit it. Why is he in pain, why has he been tortured? In her own way, this is what Sabrina was trying to get you to see, what she wanted you to learn. Look beyond his skin and look into his soul.

There was movement. Slowly, with great pain, Darwin lifted himself up, likely stirred by the sudden quiet that surrounded him. He raised his head and looked straight at Alaska.

Everything else faded into nothing: all Alaska could see, all she could focus on, was the look in Darwin's eyes. They looked like red spiderwebs had formed inside, wide, bloodshot eyes staring back at her from amongst his matted red fur.

Look into his eyes… look behind his gaze… what do you see, what does he see?

I see pain… hurt… heartbreak… I see him asking me why this happened, I see myself asking why I let it… I… I… I see Sabrina… and Looker… and Evelyn, and Daisy, and Trevor, and Gideon, and Buzz, Amanda, Chloe, Charlotte, Sandy, Damien, the fortune teller…

Yes, but what do you see? Look beyond all that, look through the surface… look at him and tell me what you see!

Alaska refused to turn away. Breathing heavily, feeling her heart racing, she stared unblinkingly at Darwin, her eyes on him while her mind rushed through everything she had experienced these last few weeks. Sabrina and her lesson, the prophecy at breakfast, Sandy's confession, Amelia and Alistair and their suggestions, the thankful guards: for the first time, things were all coming together, these thoughts gravitating towards Darwin as his battered, bruised face put everything into place…

You've nearly got it: tell me Alaska, tell me what you see…

A pause, and then…

A finished puzzle

And like that, it all made sense.

"Alaska? Are you still with us, or am I going to have to carry on without you?"

"Why did you want to battle me today?" Alaska called out, her mind snapping back to attention. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and she knew Latios was still there, but now he was merely a spectator, sitting back while she did all the hard work. Jack and his cronies stopped giggling, and all eyes were back on her again as her words hung in the air.

"What do you mean? I had no idea you were coming this way, so why would I –"

"Oh, no, of course you didn't, but you wanted me to come. You wouldn't have kept Darwin if you hadn't hoped I might come by some day, perhaps looking for him, perhaps willing to do anything to get him back. I guess really the better question is, why didn't you kill him?" Jack didn't reply, his face frozen in an expression like he had been slapped. However, the tension got beneath him after a few moments, and something between a grimace and a smirk appeared on his thin, pale face.

"I've read your blogs; I've seen all the things you've done. Marching through the region like everyone should bow down towards you, thinking your better than the people your trying to fight. I've seen comments on that forum, people fawning over you, basically cumming every time you catch a Pokémon or win a gym badge, stalking you, trying to be your friend. But I know what you really are: you're weak, pathetic, in above your head. I never cared about you much, but then we were out looking for trainers to rob when we came across this thing." With a snarl, Jack lashed out; leather boot smashing down on Darwin's head so it cracked against the road.

"We tried catching him, but when our PokeBalls didn't work, I realised who he was. He tried to run, but we knew the area better, we got him in the end. And we've waited a fortnight now, hoping you would come past and I'd be there when you appeared. I wanted to battle you, to prove to you just how weak you are. You don't deserve all this attention; you deserve to rot in a hole somewhere like the piece of shit you are. I want you to watch as I take your Pokémon away from you; then you can go off and spend the rest of your miserable journey knowing what a stain you are on this society, how little you are actually are after all if you'd let this happen to your own Pokémon: too focussed on saving the world instead of saving your own team."

"NIDO NIDO!" Nadia snarled, stepping forwards with her teeth bared. Azumarill stepped forwards, fist raised, but Alaska raised her hands, smiling quietly as she stared Jack down.

"You know, you're right in a way. I mean, you're completely wrong about me wanting to save the world, cause I really don't want this burden that's been put on me, not in the slightest. But you are right that I've let it consume, distract me from everything. When Darwin nearly killed Sandy's Pokémon, I thought sending him loose was the right thing to do. Part of me still agrees with that decision, but the other part knows I could have tried harder, could have put more energy into training him, stopping him from becoming like that. It was all too hard, I couldn't handle it, so I let him go and didn't even think twice about it. But I see the truth now… he's my Pokémon, he's my responsibility; giving him up was too easy, too weak of me. I never should have let him go, and for that, I am sorry." She looked at Darwin as she said, and though his face remained blank and pained, his eyes twitched, some recognition of emotion. Laughter suddenly erupted, and Alaska watched as hands grasped onto his head.

"That's sweet, so moving, but too little, too late bitch," Jack sneered as his cronies dragged Darwin towards him. "I'm bored now, so while you dry your eyes, I'm going to cut his throat."

"Over my dead body, motherfucker," Alaska spat, and she raised her right arm. Jack flinched, expecting a weapon, but she slowly opened her palm to reveal a PokeBall, dust rising from her fingertips as they brushed against the button.

"Return." The red beam shot out, and the bikers merely watched as Darwin faded into energy before them, disappearing across the field to reunite with his capsule. Alaska looked down at the PokeBall, part of her unable to comprehend that Darwin was once again hers, while the other was going into senseless joy, as though she was finally complete once again.

"You fucking bitch!" For a moment there, Alaska had forgotten about Jack and his cronies. Irritably, she looked up at the row of bikers, their faces shocked and angry, but none more so than Jack. "I knew youse were a cow, but I didn't think you were this bad."

"Get in line, love, there are plenty of people after me, all a lot tougher than street punk shitheads like you," Alaska replied, cracking a smile as she pocketed Darwin's PokeBall. "You've lost the only bit of leverage you had over me, so I didn't really care about you anymore."

"Oh yeah? Well, the battle isn't over – GET THEM!" Jack roared, pointing towards Paige and Nadia, and Azumarill and Muk leapt to attention.

Did you think I didn't see that coming? Alaska smirked. "Ice Beam on Twister, go!" And just like her, Paige and Nadia were ready to go: Muk began glowing yellow, but Paige rose into the air and began spinning as Nadia quickly fired. The Ice Beam was sucked into the vortex, and before it could fully form, Paige froze and flapped her wings, unleashing the frozen wind: Azumarill and Muk were sent rolling over by the wave, crashing into Jack and bringing him to the floor. The thud of his back hitting the ground echoed, and while Alaska was amused, the looks on his gang's face told a different story.

"GET THEM, GET RID OF THEM!" Jack screamed, his voice going high with rage, and his cronies quickly moved forwards.

"Is that how it's going to go then, twelve of you against the two of us?" Sandy said, stepping forwards and looking up and down the bikers grunting towards them. For a second, Alaska thought she was afraid, but then Sandy tutted and shook her head, a Great Ball appearing in her hands. "You boys really should've brought back up." And with the air of a microphone drop, Sandy threw the ball onto the field. The explosion of blue energy brought Jack's gang to a halt, and many of them quickly backed away as the sheer size of the forming Pokémon became apparent, energy wrapping around Sandy, Alaska and her Pokémon before solidifying.

"ONNNNNNNN!" Onix roared so loudly Alaska was sure their allies at the Celadon Mansion would hear him, and she weakly smiled as half the bikers fled immediately, driving away before they got caught up in anything else.

"COWARDS!" Jack screamed, but he was out of sight now, Onix's grey boulder body forming a perfect barrier. Alaska breathed a sigh of relief and nearly collapsed to the ground, feeling like a weight had been lifted from her. She turned towards Sandy and without prompt threw her arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug.

"What is this for?"

"Not letting me leave without you," Alaska whispered, and Sandy said nothing, instead putting her own arms around her. The two stayed like this for a moment, but when Jack finally fell silent and the last bike rumbled off into the distance, they broke apart, feeling free.

"So, Darwin," Sandy murmured.

"Darwin," Alaska nodded.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" For a moment, Alaska almost felt like laughing, too tired and worn out to care anymore. She knew fully well why her friend was concerned, why she thought this was a crazy what she was doing. Alaska reached into her pocket and clasped the PokeBall, ready to agree with Sandy, knowing how mad this was. And then she looked down at Paige and Nadia, their quiet, loyal faces staring wide eyed back at her: we survived again, all of us.

"No, it's what I need." Sandy smiled and nodded, and with nothing left to do, the group set off, Onix snaking his way around them. As she strolled down the path, Alaska felt something warm on her face, and she looked out towards the ocean: the clouds had moved past, letting the sun free to shine across the ocean, a shimmering expanse of blue stretched out before her.

How obvious, Alaska thought, but she couldn't help smile as she and Sandy walked side by side down the road in silence, leaving their latest battlefield behind.

Intact, like a finished puzzle.


After too long, this arc is finished! Blog and interlude up next, which should by be up by the end of May I hope! Fuchsia City coming up!