宝可梦 - 流浪的孩子 (Pokemon - Wandering Child)

Chapter 3

There he stood. His hands by his sides. His straight mouth and thoughtful eyes. Recalling the last happy memory.

"Congrats, Alain!", he remarked as they shook hands.

A large golden trophy was handed to him, his name carved into it. Although he never really cared much about winning, he was nothing short of merry. Even Ash, despite such a close loss, seemed to be enjoying the moment.

Why? Just why? 

Red, deadly vines emerged from the ground, inducing fear upon the brief celebration. His victory was forgotten as he found himself sprinting alongside the runner-up, desperate to survive.

There had to be something he could've done to stop it. 

"Alain, what's going on!"

"Alain, you've got to listen!"

"This isn't the Alain I know!"

To think that the last words exchanged between them were said in panic and distress. To think that in Ash's last moments, he was angry at him.

"Battle me, Lysandre!"

"AAAAAAAH!"

"Don't stop, Alain!"

The world was saved at the cost of his suffering. His painful death. 

Alain clenched his fists, driving them into the wall. The more frustration he channeled into the concrete, the more the room shook.

"Stupid...Lysandre..."

He finally stopped when he felt the blood trickling down his knuckles. His eyelids were sealed down, his eyebrows deeply furrowed. His teeth grating against each other so violently it overlooked the constant trembling.

"No, Ash...", he whispered, almost tearing up, "He didn't deserve this..."

"I know he didn't, Alain", spoke a familiar voice.

"Then why...why did it have to end like this, Professor? All I wanted to do was protect you and Mairin"

"I know. How selfish of you"

His eyes widened.

"W...What?"

"You'd do anything to protect me and Mairin, not giving a care in the world what happens to anyone else as a result"

He seemed to be surrounded by loud wind. Sounds he couldn't describe echoed around him.

"B-But I..."

"Clearly, you didn't care, Alain, because now an innocent young boy is dead because of you. Maybe next time you'll be more selfless, like he was"

"Professor...?"

"Yep, that's me", answered an approaching voice.

The wind seemed to die out, as did the strange sounds he was apparently hearing on his own. Since when was he sitting on the ground outside? He turned to see the Professor trudging across the leaves, looking quite concerned for him.

"Wait...I thought I was in my room? Am I going crazy?"

"Trust me, you're not the only one", Sycamore kindly informed, offering him a hand, "Serena's still in denial, and it's hard to explain everything to Bonnie. Let's just go back inside where the leaves won't swirl around on their own, okay? Maybe then you'll be able to think properly"

Alain let the Professor help him up. As they made their way closer to the doors of the lab, he suddenly stopped, keeping his hands behind his back. Alain waited for a moment before he spoke.