Sunyshore's Gym Leader Volkner was bored, and it infuriated Eliza. How could he be bored even though he lost his Pokemon whenever he lost? 

But then, she heard the rumors, and began to understand. He hadn't lost anyone since opening the gym, so he had killed so many people... to the point of numbness. 

Well, Eliza wasn't about to let his boredom get in the way of her dream! She was going to reach the end of the road for the sakes of the fallen, no matter what. 

So she didn't back down when Volkner called out his Luxray, even though it brought a pain to her heart as it brought her back to... to Zap. 

"Kuro, show them what you're made of!" she called out as she threw his Pokeball, allowing the Bug/Flying-type to come out, "Mothim!" 

She regretted it immediately when Volkner commanded, "Luxray, use Ice Fang!" 

"Lux!" 

"KURO!" she screamed. 

Time seemed to slow down.  She watched Kuro fall to the ground, hurt by the attack. She felt his Pokeball ting with a notification that his HP was in the yellow. No no no, Kuro... He couldn't-

"M-Mothim...." 

Her eyes widened in shock, and so did Volkner's as they saw him slowly flutter up. He was clearly injured, he was definitely not in the green or even yellow, yet... he was getting up. 

Eliza's tears fell, not of fear, but of relief. He was hanging in there... for her, she realised. He was hanging in there because he knew that if she lost anyone, she would be shattered. 

Using this chance, she said, "Kuro, come on back!" and called him back before getting another member, "Go Chomps!"

"Bite bite!" he roared, and they began their counterattack. 

When Luxray fell, the first of four, Eliza knew that Volkner's strategy was bound to change as he slowly recalled what it was like to be a trainer when your Pokemon could lose, could be lost. 

And indeed, the tactics grew more aggressive as he tried his best against the Gabite, only for the Ground/Dragon-type to retaliate and take down his team. 

From Jolteon to Raichu, and then finally, Electrivire... when his final Pokemon fell, Volkner fell to his knees, eyes wide as tears were streaming down his cheeks. 

He... had lost. 

He had forgotten what it was like.. to lose someone. To lose a friend, a comrade. 

Yet, as he gripped his Electrivire's hand, Volkner felt... a sense of peace. 

It was so jarring, so out of place, yet at the same time, it was fitting, ironic really, how it had to be his friends' death that snapped him out of his stupor. 

He wiped his tears, and smiled at Eliza as he held out the Badge, "Thank you for... this... I really needed it... C-Congrats on winning the final Badge!" 

Eliza shakily took it into her own hands. She... she had done it. After everything... she had gotten the final badge needed to enter Victory Road. 

"We... We did it!" she cheered. "Oh Chomps, you did wonderfully!" 

"Gabite!" Chomps snuggled into her, a grin on his face. They had done it! Now all they had to do was beat the Elite Four and then... the Champion.

But Eliza trusted her team, believed in their strength and their teamwork! They would make it!

Right?

She was proven wrong. She lost someone. Again. 

(Losses never stopped coming, she realised too late.)

A battle with a Rhyperior killed Chomps on their way to Victory Road. 

It was supposed to be an easy battle. They were so close to winning! 

And then... the final blow took Chomps out. 

Of course, Eliza hadn't noticed since she had been focused on throwing the Pokeball at the Rhyperior, so when she turned around, a grin on her face, it was wiped off almost immediately. 

"Chomps?..." 

"Ga... bite," Chomps smiled weakly at her. "Gabite gabite..." 

"Win... for you?" she repeated. "Why are you...? No no Chomps don't close your eyes--" 

Too late. Another longtime member closed his eyes, and recalled all the fun times with the team, the family, before smiling as a lone tear fell. 

Then, he stopped breathing. 

Eliza spent an hour sobbing over his body, before she decided this couldn't go on. 

The funeral was short, and everyone was quiet as they paid their respects to Chomps the happy yet clumsy Gabite. 

"Chomps... You will be the final lost," Eliza declared to the makeshift grave, tears streaming down, holding the newly caught Rhyperior's Pokeball in her hands. "We will win and make you proud... with the Rhyperior that defeated you... Mercury the Rhyperior." 

(No one commented on the naming.

No one mentioned that losses was inevitable either. 

Maybe it was because they wanted to believe. They wanted to vainly hope that no one else would die.

Oh, how wrong they were....)

The group then turned to their destination, seen from their current position. 

"Onto Victory Road, guys. Let's end this suffering once and for all," Eliza said to the others. 

"Infernape!" 

"Zel!" 

"Thim thim!" 

"Weavile!"

"Toxicroak!" 

The final challenge was nearing... and so was the end of their journey. 

venusaura Woah, I honestly didn't expect to finish it this fast. I'm sure it was really rushed, but I did my best and got there. I hope you like it!