***Serena's POV

I knee down next to Gastrodon. I quickly examine his body and find black marks on his torso.

"What is going on?" May yells.

Misty keeps crying.

"Stay here with Misty and Gastrodon!" I yell, as I get up and rush through the door.

I look around. Nothing seems out of place. I retrace my steps back towards the pool and gasp when I find Jason.

He has one hand against the wall to keep his balance. A big pool of blood is at his feet as he stares down Maximum across from him.

"Sometimes, the best way to kill is by doing nothing." He says, snapping his fingers. A giant dinosaur mixed with a shark stomps behind him.

"There's more satisfaction, watching the life slowly drain out of their bodies," Maximum slowly walks towards Jason. Jason stares at Maximum and the Pokemon.

"What's wrong Jason? Meowth got your tongue?"

Jason reaches for his belt and pulls out a Pokeball. He unleashes his own, big dinosaur Pokemon: a Tryantrum.

"Oh? Still want to fight? That's fine. I'll respect your wishes. It's only the polite thing to do, right Serena?"

Maximum turns and stares me down.

I gasp. Jason turns and his eyes widen.

"Get out of here," Jason weakly mutters.

"Aw, you don't want her to see your final stance. It's ok though, she's going to be busy enough. Garchomp, Hyper Beam on the girl."

Garchomp aims at me, powering his shot.

"Tyrantrum, Take Down!"

Tyrantrum obeys, charging straight at Garchomp, but then is hit by a Psybeam, and is thrown into the pool.

"It's ok, I brought friends," Maximum says.

A woman with a white mask comes around a corner, with a Kadabra next to her.

I run towards the pool.

"Garchamp!"

Garchamp unleash the beam straight at me. I dive straight into the pool, avoiding it by miliseconds.

My eyes being to sting from the water.

I look around, and I see Tryantrum struggling to reach the surface. I slowly reach and grab my Pokeball, unleashing Mudkip. I point at Tryantrum, and gesture towards the surface. Mudkip nods and swims away. I go upwards, breathing in as soon as I get out of the water.

"What a smart girl. I'm impressed. Too bad you only delayed your death, not his," Maximum says. Jason slowly slides against the wall to the ground.

That's not good.

"Jason!" I yell as I swim towards him.

"Sir, we have to go! The townspeople are trying to break through the barrier," the masked woman says, pulling on Maximum.

"Let them come! They won't stand a chance! Bronzong's Barrier is unbrenchable!"

I pull myself out of the pool and run to Jason's side. His eyes are slowly closing.

"Jason! Don't give up on me now!" I shake his body gently. His eyes flicker in response.

"Sarah? Is that you?"

Who's Sarah?

"Jason, it's-"

"I'm sorry for what I did, I never thought this would happen," Jason mutters, before trying to close his eyes again.

"No! Jason! Stay awake!"

"You have to realize he's not going to. Give up."

Maximum unleashs a Aggron and Flygon.

"My favorite meal is breakfast. I love listening to jazz, even though I listen to all kinds of music. I can play the saxophone and sing. I have no siblings, and I never had a girlfriend." Jason says, grabbing my arm.

"Stop talking gibberish, I'm trying to plan a way to get you out of here!" I scold, reaching for my belt again. I unleash Slyveon and Minun.

"I'm not talking gibberish. I'm talking about myself," he says with a weak smile.

"You can tell me more later!"

The masked woman unleashes a Gengar and Drapion.

"No. You need to know something, so you can put something on my tombstone."

I glare at Jason.

He smiles at me.

"I traveled all the regions. My favorite so far has to be Kalos, because..."

His words began getting cluttered and mixed.

Aggron and Garchomp growl.

"What's wrong? You smell something? What is it?" Maximum asks his pokemon.

Of all people, why does he have the ability to talk to Pokemon?

The water splashes upward from the pool, and Tryantrum rushes out, mouth, his sharp teeth ready to crush whoever is unfortunate enough to meet them. His teeth sink into Flygon's wing. Flygon shrieks in pain.

"Aggron, Metal Claw!"

"Slyveon, use Swift!"

Slyveon obeys, landing the attack on Aggron. Garchomp rushes towards Slyveon, one of his arms lighting up.

"Mudkip, Water Gun!"

A stream of water launches out of the pool, hitting Garchomp. It doesn't stop him, but it slows him down.

"Minun, Ice Punch!"

Minun becomes a blur. Garchomp swipes at Minun, but it's in vain as Minun's blue fist makes contact with Garchomp's rough purple skin. He is frozen in a solid ice bond to the ground.

"Yes!" I cheer, but then Tryantrum is thrown in the air, coming straight for us.

"Run Serena," Jason warns, trying to rise himself up.

"Not a chance," I say, looking through Jason's belt for Tryantrum's Pokeball.

"Found it!"

I aim the pokeball at Tryantrum, and I return him. But right behind him was the Gengar, rushing at me with a Night Shade. Slyveon dives in front of me, taking the hit.

"No!"

Slyveon hits the ground hard. Gengar then powers up a Shadow Ball and shoots it at Slyveon.

"Minun, do-"

Minun is being stepped on by Aggron.
The Drapion then picks me up with her tail, and squeezes. I wince as I feel the pincers slowly crush me, forcing my body closer and closer together.

Maximum walks up next to Drapion.

"Tell Jason that Drew says hello," Maximum says, as he turns to walk away.

"Override, finish-"

Mudkip splashes out of the water and tackles Maximum to the ground. Mudkip then runs up and takes the mask off Maximum's face. Maximum roars as he covers his face with his gloved hands.

"Kadabra, use Confusion!" The masked woman says, but nothing happens.

"Kadabra, why are you not obeying me?"

"Because she's unconscious."

Misty is standing next to Kadabra, who is on the floor, with her Starmie and Staryu behind her.

"You two have extended your welcome here at Cerulean City's Gym. I want you both out. Now."

Her eyes are red from crying, but they're engulfed in anger.

"Drapion, toss this girl aside and use Posion Sting! Gengar, use Shadow Ball!"

Drapion's tail launches me in the air, and I watch as I feel my body become weightless as I slowly stop going up, and begin going down straight towards the ground. I can't even force a scream out of my mouth. I see green vines wrap around my waist and slowly bring me to the ground.

I see May standing next to a Venusaur, who smiles at me.

"I'm sorry we're late, but we're here!"

I quickly hug May, but then begin to pull her arm.

"We have to get Jason some help!"

"Way ahead of you," May responses, as Venusaur's vines reach out for Jason and pick him up.

Maximum is still on the ground, covering is face. His Pokemon had stopped attacking and are now surrounding him, covering his face. I run towards Slyveon, and return her, Minun, and Mudkip into their pokeballs.

"Thanks a lot guys," I whisper to them.

"May! Serena! Get out of here! Take Jason to the hopistal!" Misty orders as her Pokemon are attacked.

"But, what about-"

As if knowing my question, Gastrodon comes out and sends a Mud Bomb straight at Drapion, crushing her.

"It's ok! I got help!"

"Gengar, use Sucker Punch on Staryu now!" The masked woman orders.

I see a woman figure in the shadows, point and commanding Gastrodon.

"Gastrodon, now use Harden and take the hit for Staryu!"

Gastrodon listens without hesitation, his whole body glowing as he steps in front of Staryu.

May returns Venusaur and unleashes Pidgeot.

"Help me put Jason on here, and let's get out of here!"

I grab Jason's arms. They're cold as stone. I hold back my emotions as I put him on Pidgeot.

I don't know if he's dead yet. He can't be dead yet. He's just cold. That's it.

Pidgeot then flaps his wings, and we fly out the glass on the side of the building. Below, I see the crowd attacking an invisible wall.

That's the barrier Maximum talked about. He kept any outside help from coming in. It just seems like so much confusion and anger has taken over the people, as they desperately try to help their gym leader. It looks like a warzone.

"What a mad world we live in," I mutter, as we fly in silence.