The first overwhelming instinct I had was that it was hot. However, the hot feeling was bizarre; totally contrary to what I had expected. At first, the heat was pleasant as it washed over me, like the feeling of sinking into a hot bath. For a moment, I just stood there, overcome with an overwhelming feeling of calm and clarity. My eyes were squeezed tightly shut but I was still conscious of dancing flecks of bright light across my vision. I also couldn't hear anything aside from a dull roar, like the feeling of having your head fully submerged underwater.

A thought calmly entered my head.

I was going to die.

I felt strangely accepting of this ultimate fate as the thought presented itself to me. Instead of fighting it, I began to think about what it would be like to die. At first, I entertained the hopeful thought that it would be like some sort of warm tickly feeling that would last all of a few seconds before I'd feel nothing at all. However, I very quickly realised how stupid I was being. Dying, especially in circumstances like this, could never be quick and painless. Dying here, at the fate of a Chandelure that would burn out my very soul would be nothing short of horrific. The flames would burn so torturously hot that they would burn the flesh from my bones within seconds. And even if by some miracle that I would survive the burning fire, there would be no guarantee of the safety of my soul.

Again, I hoped against all hope that it would be quick, and not like the slow, excruciating affair that I knew it was likely to be. I found myself wishing that someone up there would be merciful and let it be over quickly. Like slipping into a deep sleep. I even hoped they would spare me the whole 'life flashing before your eyes' thing. If I was going to die, I didn't want every failure, every hardship and every regret I had ever endured to be my final reminder of my presence upon this big empty earth…

"…enna!"

The noise punctured the deep, thoughtful haze I was trapped in, but I didn't want to pay any attention to it. Everything was starting to feel strange. The calm and comforting feeling that had lingered earlier was now dripping away. My limbs felt heavy and weak, numbed all over. I was conscious of some kind of pressure being exerted onto my arm, but I didn't have the faintest idea what it was. The heat around me was intensifying, suffocating and constricting, like I'd been tied up in thick ropes. The force around my arm suddenly tightened and before I knew what was happening, I was tugged forward. My whole body splayed and jerked erratically as I was pulled, my feet barely able to steady myself. I had no control over my body. I couldn't even open my eyes. A moment later, I felt myself fall.

I lay there for a few moments, my eyes still closed. Without any warning. I felt a wave of icy cold sadness burst over me. But this wasn't the sort of sadness that bit at you for a few seconds and then died away almost immediately. This was a type of bitter, crushing anguish that completely gripped me and held me captive. Sobs rose within me, but I couldn't expel them. Instead, they stayed inside, poisoning me. I felt helpless; at the mercy of every existential force in the universe. It was like I was the only person left in the world.

Something didn't feel right. There was a sickening squeezing feeling surrounding my heart and my head felt foggy, my thoughts incoherent and messy. My hand twitched and I could feel the wooden floor underneath my fingertips. I felt the heat of the room slowly consuming me. The darkness of my vision was suddenly invaded again by those whirling kaleidoscopic lights and they danced mockingly across my mind's eye. The flames were hissing and spitting, crackling, making noises like fireworks. It was almost hypnotic. As well as that, it inspired a weird nostalgic feeling. For a moment, I felt like I was seven years old again when I used to sit in front of the open fire. It's long boarded up now. Mum had it bricked up after one too many near-fatal accidents. She insisted that it was too dangerous to keep around with a young child and almost too many Pokémon to count. I had been so upset when she got rid of the fire. I loved sitting in front of it and experiencing its warm, soothing glow. It had been something I hadn't even realised I had missed until the days of huddling by a tiny fire in the middle of nowhere at stupid o'clock at night. And right now, I was feeling it again. The warm, soothing glow that reminded me of home.

I wanted to go home.

As I thought that, the pain came again…

I thought I was used to pain by now. I had experienced and somehow lived through more pain than I ever thought possible of any normal human being, let alone myself personally. I knew there was no way I could become fully accustomed to pain of any sort, but I had anticipated I could have learned to weather it better, like people with conditions who had to get used to chronic pain every day. But it wasn't happening. The physical and mental pain I had endured up to now was so strong and so awful I had feared on some occasions that it could even kill me. But that paled in comparison to now. Now, I wanted to die. Before, I had fought it all off so desperately, but now I just wanted it all to end. The pain and anguish that wracked my body was taking root deep within me. It felt like someone was trying to rip my heart out through my ribcage. My weakened joints burned, but wouldn't even twitch in an attempt to get myself away from the pain's source. I wanted to scream but no noise would come.

I could smell burning. It was thick in the air, pungent and unmistakable. But it wasn't the smell of burning wood. I was used to that, having travelled through countless woodlands with an over-excitable Fire Pokémon at my heels. This was definitely not the smell of burning wood. It smelled like burned meat. But who on earth would be cooking meat…?

A voice pricked up at the back of my mind. Get out. Get out. It was relentless in its ordering, but try as I might, I couldn't even acknowledge it.

"Sienna!"

This voice was different. As it sounded, I was able to feel something again. There was something touching me. Hands, maybe? I didn't know. Whatever they were, they were strong. My whole body was uprooted and I was pulled to my feet. I wasn't settled on them properly and I wavered slightly before my entire body completely slumped. I expected to hit the ground again, but I didn't. I fell against a soft weight, somehow remaining more-or-less upright. I could hear the voice again, but the words were indecipherable

My thoughts were rushing in and out of my head madly and I held no control over them. However, there was one thought that remained prominent throughout all the others. The sheer feeling of confusion as to what was going on. What was happening?

There was one other troubling thought that wouldn't leave me alone. Even despite the muddle of panicked, half-formed sentences inside my head, I couldn't mistake the presence of one other word. "Spirit". Over and over again, I thought of spirit. But what kind of spirit? And why that one word? What was the significance of that…?

"Sienna, you need to wake up! Wake up!"

My eyes felt like they had been glued together, but there was something about the voice that made me feel like I should really listen to it. I forced my eyes open obediently and immediately I was assaulted by a thick purple blur, a messy inkblot on my vision. It took several seconds for my eyes to adjust and to pinpoint details again. I was trapped, surrounded on all sides by billowing plumes of purple flames that roared like the bellows of a wild beast. My eyes burned even to look at my surroundings and I was filled with an icy cold fear at the untameable force that ploughed through everything in its path. My skin felt like it was blistering, my chest like there was a ton of pressure weighing it down and my mind swam with a thick, misty haze.

I looked up and saw eyes. Familiar eyes.

My father's eyes.

The smoke swirling around us was growing thicker, now obscuring any good view I could hope to get of his face. He was close, though. I knew he was close. He was so close that we were practically touching. "You have to get out!"

My dry, chapped lips parted. "Out…?"

"Chandelure's flames! They'll consume your soul, Sienna! Get out! You need to get your Pokémon and get out!"

"I don't know how…"

The blazing inferno of purple and black seemed to roar again as I spoke. The putrid smoke forced its way down my throat, making me gag and retch as I tried to take in deep breaths. The pain in my chest was excruciating and I wanted nothing more than to give in, lie down on the floor and let whatever was going to happen run its course.

"Sienna!" I felt force shake me. "You need to get out! Your Pokémon are right around you. You have to trust me! Just recall them and get out!"

"I…" My words trailed away hopelessly, but somehow my fingers drifted towards my belt and I touched the familiar metal of a Pokeball. The metal was blazing hot, the heat of it burning my fingertips. Still, I forced myself to hook out the capsule and hold it. I squinted through the fog and made out several dark shapes darting around. Pokémon. My Pokémon? I felt an instinct claw at me, itching and scratching with hooked claws, but I wasn't sure how to activate it. I found the centre button of the Pokeball and pressed it clumsily. The capsule burst open, surprising me, the whole thing nearly slipping from my sweaty fingers. A burst of red light flashed like a lightning bolt across the room and died away quickly. However, as the light faded, I felt the ball become weighted down. A sense of relief clutched at my throat. One of my Pokémon was safe!

It was the kick I needed. Coughing and spluttering, I pulled out every Pokeball I still had and called back my Pokémon. I couldn't see any of them so I had to act blindly, red beams of light shooting around the dojo erratically with varying success. The flames were spreading, licking up the walls and debris fell from the ceiling. Some pieces only missed me by inches. But eventually, after several haphazard tries, all six Pokeballs held their corresponding Pokémon safely.

No sooner had I attached the final Pokeball to my belt, my Dad suddenly lunged for me. His arms went straight around me and he was pushing me forward, ushering me through the flames. But I could barely even concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other. My legs refused to obey what my brain was telling me and the pain in my chest was crushing. Everything inside me hurt, like my innards were being squeezed and tugged at. Like someone was trying to rip them right out.

And just when I thought I could bear it all no longer, I heard a bang and the noises of wood splintering. A rush of cool air suddenly hit me in the face, making me feel even dizzier than before. My eyes reluctantly opened into a blinding light and I staggered, totally unsure on my feet. I heard my name being called and finally I registered where I was.

I was outside.

"Sienna?"

I was blundering, but still somehow managed to turn around and look in the direction of the voice. The first thing I noticed was the flames, dancing and encroaching on the wooden walls of the dojo. They were scarily close, but for some reason, I found I wasn't afraid. I was looking up at my Dad. He was covered in ash and soot, his clothes singed and smoky and his face red and flushed. His hands, clenched around my wrists, were bloodied. The skin was peeling, revealed charred, sinewy flesh, but he didn't even seem like he was in pain. I instinctively tried to grab him, but he pushed my away with such force that I almost went sprawling onto my back.

"D…dad! What are you doing?!"

He wasn't even stepping away from the door.

"Making sure Nathan and Helene get what's coming to them."

"Get…what's coming to them?" My heart was racing, pummelling against my ribcage. "What do you mean? W-who cares about them?! We've gotta get away from the dojo!"

"If they're not stopped now, and stopped permanently, they're just going to come back and again and again. I don't want that. I can't let that happen."

"D-dad?"

"I don't have a choice, Sienna. Things just… things just have to be this way…"

"Be what way? I… I don't understand!"

"Sienna… Sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the greater good."

"Sacrifices?! What!? No! What are you talking about?!"

"Sienna, I… I'm sorry…"

I'm not entirely sure if it was the fact I was dizzy, faint and likely hallucinating from the smoke inhalation, or if it was the effects of the Chandelure's flames, but as I stared into my father's eyes, the sadness came back. The sight of his silhouette lit up by a flickering purple haze instilled an ingrained fear in me and for that moment, I could have sworn there were tears making tracks along his sooty cheeks. I stood there helplessly, entirely unsure of how to act or what to do. He was motionless, standing in the doorway of the flaming dojo while I stood safely to the side. I could vaguely hear my name being called, and I tried to speak, but my throat was raw and dry and I couldn't make the words come. I was totally blind, deaf and mute to everything around me.

"It all ends where it began," he told me, putting a hand on my shoulder. His hand felt strangely heavy. "Be proud. Be proud of what you've done. Be proud of who you are. Of what you became." He paused, and my entire body began to tremble uncontrollably like it knew something I didn't. "I…" he said slowly. "I know I am,"

"Wh…what…?"

But that was all he said. Suddenly, he took a step backwards. Back into the dojo, still alight with flames. Back into the dojo that I knew still contained Nathan, Helene and that Chandelure. As he stepped inside, my whole body suddenly went weak with fear. What the hell was he doing?! I lunged for the handle as the door swung shut again, but it stuck fast and refused to open. It was locked. I started to scream. I beat my fists on the solid wooden door, hoping to somehow make it cave in. For a short time, nothing happened.

And then it all happened at once.

I don't know if any of you have ever experienced an explosion, been in a building when it collapsed or lived through an earthquake. I've had to endure them many times over the course of being a Pokémon trainer and I thought I could never find anything that could be worse. But I did find something. And I can tell you now that nothing can compare or will ever compare to the horror of what I saw that day. Of the fate that befell the Free Spirits dojo.

Of the last day I ever saw my father.

I had taken a few cautious steps back, trying to deduce how, if at all, I could break back into the dojo, when a huge blast sounded from within its depths. The explosion ripped straight through the fragile shell of the dojo, wood and debris flying in all directions. I screamed, backed away as fast as I could as intense waves of heat billowed across the entire area. The flames roared, wind and fire crackling and rippling for what felt like could have gone on for miles. I staggered, fell backwards, and hit the ground hard. Despite the blistering heat and flames only a few short metres in front of me, I was gripped with an icy fear, like a hand around my throat. I was paralysed. Behind me, people were screaming. And I looked up and saw a sight that would plague me forevermore.

"Oh my God, no!"

Torrents of angry red flames had engulfed the building, threatening to completely obliterate the purple fire. The orange flames were spiralling and roaring so high up into the air that I felt they could have touched the heavens itself. I felt faint, like the slightest movement would make me collapse, but I still pushed myself to my feet. My eyes never left the burning building. The burning building that still contained Nathan, Helene, the Pokémon and my father.

"They're still in there…" I whispered, as the flames roared, the entire building caught in its grips. It looked like a living, breathing monstrosity. It looked like a hellish red blur, tinged with orange and yellow, its fingers reaching out to seize everything it could reach. It bellowed with such a ferocity that I feared that nothing would be left after it burned its course. "They're still in there!" I screamed.

My legs felt like jelly, but I forced myself to run. However, a pair of arms quickly grounded me and rooted me to the spot, strong, powerful hands gripping my waist. The touch made me panic and I fought the grip, kicking, screaming and hitting out. My efforts to break away were in vain, the hands holding me impossibly tight. A breathy, urgent voice rung in my ear. "Sienna! Sienna, baby, it's me! It's Elliot!"

"Elliot! No! Let me go!" I screamed, struggling furiously. "Let me go!"

He wouldn't let me go, his arms tightening even further. "Sienna! Don't you be stupid!"

He sounded angry, but I didn't even care. I beat at his hands with my fists in the hope he'd release me, but he still held on. "Sienna!" He started to physically drag me backwards, away from the flaming dojo, making me scream even more.

"Elliot!" I screeched, my throat ablaze. "Let me go!"

"Sienna, you can't go in there! I won't let you go in there!"

"But my Dad! He's still in there!" As I yelled those words, the horrible, ominous finality sunk in. A fresh wave of hot desperate tears broke over my face and my entire body went limp.

"Sienna, Sienna, baby, it's okay…" Elliot's voice suddenly softened, almost to a whisper, gently tickling my ears. "It's okay, baby… they'll get him out, I promise. We already called for the fire engines!"

"B-but, Elliot—! I…!"

"Sienna, if you go in there, you'll only get yourself hurt! Badly hurt! After everything your dad did to get you out of there, he wouldn't want you to put yourself in any more danger!"

I wanted to scream further, but it was then that the nerve-jangling wails of sirens cut sharply across my consciousness. Seconds later, an ambulance and a fire engine pulled up on the scene. As I saw them, the finality and the danger suddenly hit me like a slap in the face. I started to sob uncontrollably. Elliot was clinging onto me, but I didn't even register him. As Pokémon started to be released, mostly huge water types that belonged to those on the fire service, which began tackling the out-of-control blaze, my mind was racing, fear consuming me. "What if they can't stop it? God, they could die! If… if they're not already dead! Oh my God… Dad!"

As I stood there, manic thoughts rushing in out of my head, all I could do was cry. The image of that Chandelure was burned into my mind, haunting, horrific and nightmarish. Nathan's words chimed over and over in my head, a mad, mocking echo I was doomed never to be rid of.

"If you are consumed by the fires of a Chandelure… your spirit will be absorbed into Chandelure! Your spirit will be trapped! It will be burned! Burned for all eternity! And your body… your body will be left behind, hollowed out and empty."

Some part of me wondered how I had even managed to survive such an ordeal. Even looking at my skin, I saw it blistered and burned, tell-tale marks from the fingers of Chandelure's flames. I knew I had come into contact with them, yet I still seemed more or less intact. But I didn't know what would have happened to Dad, Nathan and Helene. They had been in there a lot longer than I had. And the explosion, whatever had caused that, had occurred right when they were trapped inside. That explosion, at close range, was probably enough to kill, or at the very least, seriously injure someone. Then there was the consequential fire and smoke inhalation from the explosion to contend with. And if they had somehow, miraculously, survived that, then there was still the matter of the Chandelure to contend with. Even if they had lived, if their souls had been taken by Chandelure… they were as good as dead.

The tears came again. I felt people tug at me, familiar voices in my ears, but I didn't care about any of that. None of it mattered. All that mattered was that burning building which in its fiery depths still held onto my father. As the flames raged, I sunk to the ground. I heard screams, shouted commands, the wails of sirens and the rush of water, consolidating into one furious blur of noise.

But it all dulled into nothingness as the shell of the building collapsed, huge puffs of smoke belching out as it fell entirely in on itself and crumbled away in front of my very eyes.

Author's Note

Hey guys =) I'm so sorry this update took so long, but I've had a lot of university commitments and personal issues. Very serious personal issues, but it's okay, I'm getting better =D

I won't spend forever talking about this update since it does kinda speak for itself, but yeah... this is it. Free Spirits has reached its end and will be concluding within three chapters. After this, I'll be taking a slower approach to fanfiction as I'm going to attempt writing an entirely new novel =D

Thanks to my lovely readers and reviewers: antonm1107, Lmv16, MasterFreezeman, Shadow Serenity 57, TwewyReaperGirl and ArchXDeath.

I'll try get the next update out as soon as I can! Thank you!

OceanSpiral out!