Rain plastered his red hair onto his face as he stared down on the smoking city of Motostoke. The heavy pour of rain hid the tears of the victims, stealing the satisfaction. He clicked his tongue as he kicked the corpse of Kabu down the cliff. The gym leader offered quite the hurdle—much more challenging than the pests before him—but Patrick didn’t play fair. They aimed for his Pokemon; he aimed for their throats.

  Water splashed everywhere as a thud echoed off the cliff. Patrick turned around and found his army, the one he forged from nothing. Obstagoon stood at their front, its tongue drooping, a huge smile drawn on its face. Froslass drew her hand to her mouth as she laughed, her sound hollow, shrill.

  “Salazzle,” Patrick called out, his back to Motostoke. Salazzle climbed up the cliff, joining the rest of his army. “Good job.” He threw a Cheri Berry at Salazzle, which she munched down on with glee. He paused, holding an arm to the side to stop the march of the rest of his army.

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  Huffing got louder and louder as someone climbed the hill, going in the direction of the killer, not the other way like most of Motostoke’s residents did. Red hair similar to his cut the monotony of the surroundings as the girl’s cheeks glowed crimson. She stared straight at Patrick.

  "Why…” Tears ran down her cheeks, merging with the raindrops. “Why?”

  Patrick’s stoic expression broke for a second as he studied the eyes of Amber. Beside her, her evolved Ninetales stood, regal, exuding a bubble of warmth despite the cool of the rain. He recovered his impassive expression. “I’m just righting this world.” Patrick resumed his march, building distance from Amber, in case one of his Pokemon went rampant. “A world where Pokemon are slaves, where humans rule supreme? Who decided that?”