I wake up two mornings later clutching the bedsheets.

The weight of the universe hits me like a brick, and though the team appears, for the most part, to be sleeping, a quiet "Guys?" lets me know that not one of them is dormant.They turn at once, as if I'd dropped an entire tray of silverware onto the ground instead of just murmured something, and I can see the anxiety in all of their eyes.

I feel selfish for worrying so much. They're the ones risking their lives today.

"You know that's not true," replies Fang. "We're all in this."

I shake my head, hoping with all my heart not  to start crying this early in the morning. Victory or tragedy, there will be plenty of time for that instead. I slip on a green jacket and jeans, just as I did that first morning, and run my fingers over Ethan's Poke Ball, like a promise. This one goes out to you, bud.

I look at the ceiling, thinking that this might be the last time I sleep in this bed. I can't help but wonder if this is the same adrenaline other Pokemon Trainers feel when they go off to fight the Elite Four themselves. Though my stakes are higher, I know that a lost team, no matter what the ensuing consequences are, is devastating on anyone. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

This goes out to all of us. For all the trainers who've left these halls with their ambitions dashed... for all of the versions of me and those I care about reflected across myriad timelines in an infinite sea of strange universes, and or those we've lost along the way. For anyone who cares enough to witness me, do so. Take a look at the new champion of Johto.

For all of us with hearts of gold.

"Amen to that."

I release Pisces once we're on the main floor, and we eat a quick breakfast, though none of us have much of an appetite at this point. I shovel some extra berries and food into my bag, in case we really are there all day. It's solemn, but not out of malice. We're just bracing for the hardest day of our lives. What else is there to say?

I find out when we walk into the main hall and Reginae asks, "Couldn't we tell them? If the world's going to end, it's not like they're just going to stand in our way."

"Red," I say, "Red's not going to let us go that easy. If we cheat, as far as he's concerned, the game's probably over."

Ten tilts his head. "Aren't we already cheating? We've got Morty for back up and the grace of several gods on our side."

I shrug. "The only real rules, far as I can tell, are that we need to beat the gyms and similar challenges- all of them- on our own merits. Having a mentor of some kind is hardly cause for disqualification, and trading," I say, thinking of my team's potential return from wherever they must be, "Is hardly any worse. The biggest thing I can think of is the legendary interference and judging by what he said to me a few days ago..."

"During the Celebi encounter? Red was there?" asks Pisces, showing genuine interest for once in her life.

"I- I definitely mentioned it at least once, didn't I?" I say, trying to stir through the murky soup of my memory over the last few days.

"What did he want from you?" demands Reginae.

Embarrassed, I admit, "He wanted me to let Ethan out of his Pokeball."

"You wouldn't."

I start, "Two nights ago, when you all were asleep..."

"You did."

"It was just for a few minutes." I reply, eager to defend myself. "I know, I know, but Reginae, if someone bought Rose back, no matter what she was like, you would want to save her too, wouldn't you?"

"Don't mention Rose." he snaps, and then, grief heavy his voice, continues, "Please."

Minerva, sick of our melodrama, flicks her tails and says, "Can we not fight today? I love you two working it out as much as the next team member, but I don't want to fight the Elite Four at midnight. I want to fight them now."

"We are the only challengers today." I tell her as we ascend the steps, trying to hide the growing anxiety that drapes over all of us like a thick fog. "How long can five battles take?"

"Years," says a man by the door, dressed in a black suit and a hat that signifies his position as a guard. He looks more like a weird ballroom dancer than security, but though his choice in wardrobe is questionable, there's authority in his voice. "Including the time it takes to get you here. I warn you now- you may not leave once you've entered. We've had trainers bang on the doors, sopping in blood, and still be forced onto the next room. Brutal though it may seem, the Elite Four's rules have been the same for centuries, and the risks are well known. Like the feral world that preceded us, we have only one mantra: You fight or you die. That is all. Of course, you of all people would know this well. The challenge has a special meaning for Goldeneyes, who we fully encourage to fight to the fullest extent of their strengths."

I wasn't expecting the monologue, which far as I can tell is just made to intimidate trainers. "We've got this," I assure my wide-eyed Pokemon.

"Well then. Take your place amongst the greats, if you dare." He opens the doors. The area ahead is a tunnel, with a bright and indistinct light at the end. I place a foot forwards, and step by step, we pass through the darkness together, the slam behind us little more than a dull echo in the distance.

We emerge into a purple room coated from wall to wall with mirrors, which glow in a purple fluorescent light. The battle field is typical, confined to League standards, which are dubious on their inclusion of mirrors and other surfaces, but the room itself is still unnerving.

I've grown to be a little unnerved by my own reflection by now, which doesn't help. The too-small body and the ashen, sullen face makes me feel uncomfortable.

A single trainer stands at the middle of the field, opposite us, with a large grin across his face. He wears red and black, a ridiculous fancy vest and red undersuit, and to top it all off a mask runs across the length of his face. He holds his hand out, as if I'm supposed to shake it, but I stand still.

He draws it back. "Not one for greetings, eh? My name's Will. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Hart. I've heard and seen great things about you. In fact, I'm seeing a few right now." He puts his fingers to his temples and rubs them in a circle, as if concentrating. "Ah! You're a Goldeneye, aren't you?"

"Okay, how is everyone guessing?" I ask.

"For one thing, Lance told me about you. For another, I heard the door guard talk about it." He laughs, a mirthful and yet almost hollow sound unlike a villain's laugh from a bad dub of one of the ridiculous number of low-quality animes I poured over as a kid. In fact, between the mask and strange get up, he kind of looks like an anime villain. "No, friend, I'm not psychic. I have no powers to speak of, save for the power of hard work and a good ear. It turns out the Elite Four welcome dedicated trainers such as myself, and after long years of world travelling, I've come here. Now, allow me to welcome you to the halls of the Indigo Plateau."

"With pleasure." I say, my whole team standing besides me in a wide semicircle. Their silence only strengthens my resolve. We're going to wipe the floor with his team until it glistens.

I'm ready.

"Glyph!"

I'm not ready.

Pisces reacts before I can, and I throw my hand out as if to make it evident that I am in control of the situation. I called her out. This is my battle as much as hers.

Glyph emerges from its Pokeball, a beautiful Xatu with well-preened feathers, and attempts to throw Pisces into those lovely mirrors with a Psychic attack. Pink coils appear around Pisces, binding her, and it sweeps her sideways, but she digs her fins into the ground and thrashes until they break.

"Thunder!" I call across the field, keeping my voice level as I can, and the room shimmers with gold and purple as the whole ceiling is blacked out by a massive thundercloud that sends out a volley of thunderbolts. The Xatu dodges them all without flying, but Pisces, in irritation, roars and sweeps Glyph to the side.

Breaking free of another round of shackles, she holds her prey there just long enough to finish the job with another stormcloud, moving her tail just before the bolt strikes the poor bird.

It's unconscious within seconds.

Pisces turns back to me, efficient and dangerous as ever.

Don't get in my way.

I reply, If you're going to be a rebel, you're in all of ours. We fight this together.

"Hah, not bad." Will says, unaware of the drama, and I order Pisces back. She slinks off the field, curling around the rest of the team. "Go, Kahuna!"

The appropriately named Slowbro waddles onto the field after emerging from its Great Ball, flashing us all a dumb smile.

Reginae steps forwards. "I've got this one."

"Curse." Will says, and though I expect the worst, the Slowbro just glows with eerie red light which fades not long after.

"You know it only does the nail thing if the Pokemon using it is a Ghost type, right?" Reginae asks, looking back at me, and I nod, though I had no idea.

"Petal Dance!"

Reginae is eager to please today, though it might just be the adrenaline flooding us both. A flurry of petals unlike anything I've ever seen swamps the arena, and through the gale I hear a muttered response from the other end of the field. A pink light burns through the haze and I see the Slowbro stepping forwards, a shield of psychic energy deflecting every single petal and sending them soaring towards the walls. Several of them embed themselves in the mirrors, surprisingly sharp, and fractures begin to show across the room. Will flinches.

Still, the resilient Slowbro forces its way through all the petals and winds its arm back before pushing a huge Water Pulse right into Reginae. The Meganium, though damaged, doesn't flinch, and the Slowbro has stepped too close. Reginae's petals open up and vines whip out, and he swings the Slowbro around and back down into the battlefield. Reginae stares for a moment, awed at his strength, and I yell, "Finish the job!"

Another barrage of petals fills the area and this time it's too late for the Slowbro to dodge. Its barely back to its feet when a thousand pink projectiles hit him at once. It  crumbles to the ground, defeated, and Reginae, too, stumbles back fatigued. I draw him back into his Pokeball to rest.

Will, resolute as before, shows no signs of wear though both my wins have been definite and generally easy. "Siren, it's your turn."

A Jynx emerges onto the battlefield and I send forth Minerva, her nine tails glinting on the broken arena panelling. Before Jynx can make a move, she's immersed in flames and falls to the floor, wailing an awful high song of pain. Minerva stands, collected and calm, and Will frowns.

"Nice. Well, Frond, you're up next."

Minerva rounds on the Exeggutor at lightning speed, but Frond deflects her with a Reflect as she pounces, sending her hurtling back across the battlefield. She scowls, readying a Fire Blast, and Frond's eyes close as a loud, dissonant whisper tears across the battlefield. The sound must be a Hypnosis, and several of my observing Pokemon grow drowsy, but Minerva receives the full hit. She falls to her paws, kneeling over, but I have no intent to wait around for the Exeggutor to down one of my (five) aces. I get out an Awakening and spritz it on, and Minerva perks back up, looking defiant as ever.

She nods back at me, and races across the battlefield, twirling in flames. She slides around, under the next Reflect and around the back, and scours her fiery claws across the Exeggutor's bark. As she jumps back towards Will, she breathes a spray of fire onto her weakened foe, who finally topples over, defeated.

Will frowns, getting his next Poke Ball out. "Two in a row? I suppose I have only myself to blame... Well, don't expect my last to go down so easily. Sibyl, it's all up to you!"

Another Xatu enters the field, its crest longer and its plumage even more vibrant.

Minerva is panting by now, and though I know she'd take down the whole League if I let her, I'm not about to give into her whims. "Fang, this is all on you."

Fang perks up and jumps onto the battlefield, tail waving, though Pisces seems disappointed by the verdict.

"Don't be that way. You'll get your time." I tell her, to which she flicks her fins in obvious disinterest.

I hear the Xatu's voice, obviously feminine, through Fang's mind. So, we meet on the battlefield. I see a wide range of possibilities for the outcome of this battle, this violent tango between the two of us...

Fang goes for her wing, crunching down on it, and she knocks him away, shaking off her feathers. Disgruntled, he turns again and I yell, "Confuse Ray!"

Several illusory copies of Sibyl appear at once, all about him, all sending out their own gold beams that will just as easily confuse Fang if they touch him. He dodges out of the way, just escaping the circle, but in the panic his aim is thrown and I watch as his Confuse Ray hits the wall and disappears into a fractured mirror.

Fang huffs and pants, and as he does so, more copies emerge from every mirror, the entire room coming alive to attack him.

Well? What do you choose? How will you down us all?

Fang looks around, grimacing, and runs through a few with Quick Attack. Just as they disappear, more emerge. They all bat their wings at the same time, and what seem like several thousand blows of Ominous Wind rush over Fang at once, but there's only one breeze, coming from far to the left.

"The illusion copies can't use real attacks." I say. "Fang, just go for wherever the attacks are coming from!"

"There are still seventy of them over there." Fang complains. "Wait. I have an idea."

Fang stops dead in the center of the battle field, closes his eyes, and bolts for it. Illusory copies shatter left and right as he barrels through them, but he's paying no mind. I feel a buzz of sensation in his head and he jumps up, eyes open, and slams down into one Xatu standing near the edge. To both our surprises, the real Sibyl falls to the ground, all copies vanished.

"Critical hit." Will gasps, checking his Pokedex. "What did you do?"

Ah, a Dark Type must see past my psychic wiles... nothing can distract you from the truth, can it?

"Um, yes. I think. Not to play myself down, but I just remembered that Faint Attack doesn't miss." he says, standing over her. "Ever."

If she could smile with her bird beak, I think she would. Ah, you've proven yourself worthy. Now, go on and create a better future.

With that, her eyes close and I realize with relief that we've just won our first battle with hardly a scratch on us. Though Will seems reluctant, almost sorry, he snaps, opening the next set of doors. "You are remarkable, Ms. Hart, as are your Pokemon."

"We overgrinded a bit," I admit.

"I'd call that dedication. I may not have been a challenge, I hope the rest of the Elite Four suits you much better. Go on and face their true ferocity, if you will." He gestures towards the open door, which leads into what looks like a forest.

After spritzing up Minerva and Fang with some Hyper Potions, I release Reginae, whose confident expression lets me know he's recovered. "Sorry I missed that." he tells me. "Now, who's ready for more?"

(A/N: Find out next time if Chrona can keep the update schedule running all the way to the Champion battle! Will she make it? No one knows! Anyhow I have this thing where I try to write multiple chapters in a night because I promised TSBS would be up by now and I don't want my WTRB BROS (dude the comments and feedback I'm getting are incredible. If anyone out there writes fanfic do it for the Warriors community. They are super responsive.) to wait on me too long but damn do WTRB chapters take forever. Anyhow this time I started an hour and fourty minutes ago and guess what? My computer f*cking crashed six times in a row, just to ensure there was no chance in hell of me getting to both chapters tonight. Usually I can chalk the failure up to me being lazy but now I'm 100% sure there's some kind of... Chronaspiracy... going on here.)