All Alone (BEING EDITED)

Chapter 20: The Painful Truth

I whirl around to face the speaker. Before me stands the one person I hate with all my heart, the one person who did all this to me, the one person who deserves no mercy: Giovanni. Seeing him standing here, in front of me, makes my blood boil with years of suppressed anger and hatred.

I growl menacingly at him, but he just smirks and snaps his fingers. Grunts materialize from the darkness and surround me. My hand automatically goes to grab a pokeball, but Giovanni's laugh stops me.

"Don't waste your time, child. Your pokemon can't help you now." he chuckles, holding up a remote. I blink in realization. Of course he does that. He wants to see how strong my powers are. Well, I'll give him just that. I take a step forwards.

"You want to see my powers, don't you?" I ask harshly. I slowly lower my hood and my midnight-blue hair falls in waves around my shoulders and down my back. My hair and eyes sparkle in the white moonlight, giving me a mysterious aura. Giovanni smirks and nods his head.

"I have been searching for you ever since you escaped two years ago. Now I have found you, and I know your abilities will be twice as strong as before. Now, show me what you have accomplished so I can take you back to my lab and finish what I started all those years ago." he says calmly. My hands ball into fists and I scowl at him, my hatred growing every minute, and that last statement made me explode.

"So you can finish what you started?!" I shout angrily. "So you can destroy the rest of my hopes and shatter the few dreams I have left? My mother died because of your selfish intentions, killed by your hands because of your greed. Now you want to finish it? What more is there to do? What more can you do to me and my life?" Tears start to emerge from my eyes.

"Well, I have had enough!" I cry. "You are no longer in control. You no longer own me or torture me. I will no longer obey you!" The energy in my veins grows stronger, fuelled by anger, hatred, and grief. The grunts around me advance towards me. I unleash my power and throw my hands out to the side emitting a psychic blast that throws the grunts away. Some land on the ground while others are pounded against the trees. I spin around and fire a flamethrower at the grunt behind me. He barely manages to dodge and hides behind a tree. All of them step back in surprise and confusion as I stand there panting. I slowly turn back to Giovanni. He sighs and shakes his head.

"Your powers have grown immensely, but I will take you back. You will be mine once more." he says and snaps his fingers. A group of Persians leap out of the undergrowth and surround me. I spin around, counting the number I am up against. 8 Persians. I should feel scared, but my anger just grows stronger. Giovanni frowns.

"Sorry, but I have to do this. Power Gem." he commands. The gems on the Persians' heads glow. They shoot out rays of light and I quickly cross my arms in front of me, using Protect. The attacks bounce off and disappear into the night sky. I snarl and begin to glow white as new energy flows through me. I feel my body transform and before I know what's happening, I stand before them as a Liepard.

I growl angrily and let out a yowl so filled with rage that the Persians shrink away in fright. I smirk and quickly vanish into the shadows of the forest. Giovanni looks around in confusion, but before he can spot me I sneak up behind them. My emotions fill my body and my claws extend, emitting a dark glow as I prepare a Night Slash. I attack three of the Persians, sending them flying across the clearing. I whirl around and slash at four more of them, sending them tumbling into the undergrowth. I glow white again as I transform back into my old self, all of my energy gone.

I glare at Giovanni, trembling from the lack of energy. Giovanni gives me a smug smile.

"Use Slash." I whirl around, having forgotten about the last Persian. Searing pain erupts in my left arm and I glance down to see a long, deep gash extending from my elbow to my shoulder. I collapse onto the ground, clutching my arm as the blood starts to seep through my hands. I tilt my head up to look at Giovanni. He stands a few feet from me, petting the Persian, its claws stained with my blood. I struggle to my feet, shaking from the immense pain spreading through my body. I glare at him.

"You think you've won, don't you?" I ask slowly. The smirk on his face gives me the answer.

"Let me tell you this then: you haven't. As long as there is energy left in my body I will fight. I know what I can be if you capture me, and I will not let that happen. I will not let you hurt innocent people." I raise my right hand, still dripping with blood. A white ball forms as I say my next words.

"All I can say now is: Goodbye...father." I close my eyes as tears begin pour down my cheeks and I fire my Hyper Beam, its glow lighting up the forest. My eyes slowly open, but when I look back at my father, I can't find him. Not a trace has been left. I glance around, afraid that he might appear again. All the hatred leaves my body as I stand there confused and frightened.

"I will come back, Dawn. So you better be ready." A voice echoes on the wind. I shiver at the sound and grab my arm, the pain having returned. I stand there shaking for a few moments before a certain voice brings me back to reality.

"Dawn..." My eyes widen in shock and I spin around to see Paul standing at the edge of the clearing. His face remains impassive, but his eyes are filled with surprise, hurt, and remorse. He carefully takes a step towards me. I hesitate, still trembling from the events that had occurred a few moments ago. I don't know what to do. I don't know what to say. I don't know what to think. My emotions are overwhelming and I can't make a clear decision.

I cautiously take a step back. I start breathing heavily and the pain in my arm is excruciating. My mind is so confused that I can't think straight. I stare at Paul before I do the only thing I can think of at the moment: Run. I flee into the safety of the forest, leaving the clearing and a bewildered Paul behind.