"Dodge!" all three of them yelled. But their mistake was not knowing Night Daze. The move spread from the ground as a wave of darkness, knocking their Pokémon off their feet.

"You three can do better than that, can't you?" Iscariot gloated. "Feint Attack!"

Zoroark rushed forward, disappearing. But Shinx swiped the air with his tail. Zoroark appeared and was thrown back.

"That good enough for you?" Flynn gloated. "I told you, Shinx can see anything!"

Iscariot looked livid. "Zombie Strike!" he cried.

"Iron Defense!" Milo yelled.

Black shadows slinked from Zoroark's body, rising and forming a fist. The fist crashed down on Rosie but Bergmite jumped in the way, his body becoming steel. The fist bounced off of Bergmite, disintegrating into shadows.

"Thanks, Milo!" Phillip cried. "Psybeam!"

"Night Shade!"

Zoroark shot a jagged black beam at Rosie, who countered it with a beam of pink energy. The two beams collided in an explosion of pink and black.

Flynn gritted her teeth. "Guys, we have to try harder! Shinx, Poison-"

"That's not very smart, Flynnie."

Flynn looked to her left. Standing at the edge of the trees was a young blond girl with long, curly locks. She had a sweet smile and bright green eyes.

Flynn nearly choked. "Ellis-"

Milo grabbed her arm. "Flynn, who is this?"

Flynn looked at Ellis. "How are you here?" Flynn demanded.

Ellis grinned. "Haven't you figured it out?"

Flynn looked at Zoroark and Iscariot. "It's an illusion." she realized. "How dare-"

Iscariot grinned. "Amazing, isn't it?" he said. "I told you my Pokémon attack silently. Zoroark's silent attack invades the brain, digging out your worst fears. Unfortunately, it only works on one person at a time. I suppose Zoroark chose you because of your vile disrespect."

"You should really watch your tongue, Flynnie." Ellis chided.

"Shut up! You're not real." Flynn growled. Her body shook. "You're not my Ellie."

Ellis' smile slid from her face. She looked like she had been slapped. "Is that why you left me, Flynn? Because what we had wasn't real?"

Flynn glared at her. "That's not what I said." Flynn snapped. "And I don't have to answer an illusion who resembles my old friend. Shinx, Poison Tail!"

Shinx rushed forward, swinging his tail at Zoroark. Zoroark caught it with his claws,grabbing Shinx and throwing him. Rosie and Bergmite rushed at Zoroark, and the two of them began to pepper him with hits.

"'Old friend?'" "Ellis" said. "How could you leave me if we were friends?"

Flynn knew she wasn't real, but she couldn't help but answer. "You wouldn't come with me, Ellie! I tried -"

"You shouldn't have left!" Ellis said. "You should have stayed with me!"

"I couldn't stay," Flynn said. "Not even for you. And you can't stay either."

Ellis covered her mouth, her eyes watering. Then she disappeared, her form shimmering like mist.

Flynn turned to Zoroark, who had collapsed.

Iscariot was fuming. "How-"

Flynn balled her fists. "I knew you were too strong to beat by force, so I has Shinx poison Zoroark at the start of the battle. This whole battle was us stalling until the poison won over."

Iscariot reached for another Pokéball, but a cry came from the trees. A orange and black blur rushed at Iscariot, pinning him.

Flynn looked behind her. A woman in a police outfit glared at Iscariot.

"I might have sent a text to the police." Phillip admitted, looking proud of himself.

Milo frowned. "You can text the police?"

Flynn felt emotionally exhausted. It was like she had run out of tears without even crying.

"How could you leave me if we're friends?"

Flynn shook her head to get rid of the image.

"Flynn?"

Milo and Phillip were in front of her. Milo had a terse smile, and Phillip was biting his bottom lip. The three of them were in a Pokémon Center on Route 1. The officers had driven them there after arresting Iscariot.

"We're cleared to go." Milo said quietly. "The detective interviewed us already. You okay?"

Flynn nodded. "I'm fine, Milo."

Phillip crossed his arms. He looked less stern and more like he was holding himself. "I can't believe someone would do that to an innocent Pokémon. That poor baby."

Flynn felt a fresh wave of anger rush over her. She had forgotten the poor Snorlax. "He's a piece of shit." she agreed. "But Delta Snorlax will be alright. We sent him to Professor Sylvan. Snorlax is in good hands."

Phillip looked reassured. He smiled brightly at her. "You're right. That lunatic is in jail, and you kicked his ass. Snorlax will be fine."

"Flynn, who was that girl?" Milo blurted out.

A lesser Flynn would have flinched. Instead, she grimaced. "I was hoping you wouldn't ask."

"Flynn-" Milo started.

"She's just an old friend." Flynn said resolutely. "You know I grew up in a bad neighborhood. When I left home, she didn't want to come with me. She had personal reasons to stay, just like I had personal reasons to go. That's all."

Milo nodded slowly. He seemed to be dropping it, or at least he was for now.

A traitorous part of Flynn wished he would press on. She wanted to tell him about Ellis, her Ellie, but she couldn't. Not without telling him the whole story, a story she was forbidden to tell.

So Flynn did what she did best- she bottled it up and smiled.

A/N: *insert "I'm back bitch" gif from AHS*

Sorry for the long wait. I have no excuses except that I wanted to work on a different story.

Reader Question Time! The whole plot can't be catching Delta Pokémon, since they're supposed to be rare. Should the main characters take on the gyms, contests, or something else? The world is their oyster! Well, Torren is their oyster. Second Question! What are some good themes for the admins of the cults? Remember, in my stories each admin has a theme/power, i.e. an ability taught to each of their Pokémon that allows them to do things others can't. For example, Iscariot trained his Pokémon to be extremely quick and capable of staying hidden so they are almost impossible to see.

That's all folks!