EPISODE 25: Frozen!*

In the cave, the only sound that meets my straining ears are my own echoing footsteps. I reach out my hand to feel my way and couldn't even see it in front of my face. I stumble blindly into a forest of stalactites and stalagmites, falling on the unforgiving icy floor.

The bitter coldness chills my fingers, making them stiff and numb. The only thing serving me warmth is my woolly jacket that Charlotte allowed me to borrow. This cave, it reminds me of the Seafoam Islands, wherein everywhere you look, you could see nothing but pristine eyes. If only I did not forget my gloves in my room, I'd be even warmer. I was too in a hurry to leave, thus I tend to forget some of my equipments.

Icefall Cave, not a sound to be heard except for my footsteps. I scour for the piece, finding anything odd and unusual to the surroundings. Every corner of the cave looks the same with a few to no difference at all. I start to wonder, could the professor make a blunder? Perhaps the location of the piece isn't here after all... as so as I thought.

Looking at the surrounding ice, I've noticed a peculiar waterfall. A cave, having a waterfall? It seems pretty odd to me since I've never visited a cave that has one. Where could the water source be coming from in the first place? A lake would likely be more believable than a waterfall.

Continuing my search, I choose to ignore the waterfall and mind the other rocks to the point I could not find anything anymore, leaving the waterfall left. In a steady and cautious pace, I dip my feet to the stream and walked closer to the water-fall. Frosty, the only word that could describe the pristine water.

Reaching the waterfall, I extend my hand in hopes to feel the jagged surface behind, however, I stand corrected. From a cautious to a surprised expression, the waterfall has piqued my interest. There is a gap, there is a gap behind the waterfall.

Knowing the malice the temperature of the water has to offer, I had to make a dash through rather than walking. Still, even if I dashed, the coldness seems to make my whole body brittle to the point it trembled in an unusual manner. I'm probably going to have a fever after this.

I knew it, there is a portion of the cave I haven't explored, and that is behind the waterfall. Dark, the portion is, not even a dot of whiteness could be seen, forcing me to use my flashlight instead. This part of the cave is at least warmer than the other one. No ice, just jagged rocks soaked in cold water.

The only thing I could here are water droplets. In front of me, facing my flashlight to it is the prize I've been searching for. A rock, idiosyncratic from the rest. Its texture is as those of a rock formed from layers of sediments. And what grabs my attention the most, is the illustration found on it.

Quite blank, since the only thing I could see on it was clouds. This is a puzzle, after all, so comprehending it with only one piece will be quite difficult. But, I have a hunch. Could it be, the wing sits on top of a cloud? Never mind, it's probably unlikely to happen. Upon placing the piece on my bag, I am interrupted by a voice from behind. No, it was not the Rebirth Society since the voice was quite familiar to me. It is a she.

"Look who has come." The voice utters in a sarcastic manner. She seems to be walking to me with confidence. I turn my head behind, only to see Lorelei, a former member of the Elite Four. The last time we fought, I nearly froze her to death, and now I've entered a rematch.

"Lorelei," I mumble in a shocked expression.

"The last time we've met, you've nearly froze me to death. Have you come here for a rematch? Or... perhaps something different? I've heard, Team Rocket has risen out of the conflicts of Viridian City."

"I have no intention to fight. I came here for something else. But if you want to, I'll be willing to have a rematch."

"That piece you are holding? For what use?" Lorelei queries, not minding a single word I've said.

"It is none of your business. Lily, deploy for action!" Suddenly infuriating, I could feel my blood boiling.

"As a former elite, I vow to protect this cave from anyone who dares to intrude it. Cloyster, ready for action!" Cloyster is tossed out of its Pokeball. It looks like a Ghastly placed inside a large oyster shell with spikes.

"Blizzard!" Lorelei calls in the first move, asking Cloyster to send a galore of Ice shards to Liligant.

The attack was too much to bear, injuring my poor Lily harshly. Without hesitation, I ask Liligant to use Giga Drain. With her move, her energy was restored and her wounds were healed. She stands right back to the ground, with the looks of a determined Pokemon. As for me, something longing to burst has finally debuted inside the cave.

"Lily, Petal Blizzard, aim for the ceilings!" I instruct.

"Cloyster, protect."

With protect, our plan did merely nothing to the former elite's Pokemon, leaving me in stress as I think of a better and more proficient strategy. The battle continues to enrage inside the cave, perspiring both of our Pokemons. How long our Pokemons remain firm will decide the fate of the match, and surprisingly, Lorelei has the upper hand this time.

I wonder, why could I not defeat her like before? Is there... something missing perhaps? With my Pokemon nearly fainting, Cloyster is tasked to finish Lily with Blizzard. Amidst the upcoming conflict, I command Liligant to use Petal Blizzard to the roof once more, causing the jagged shards to counter the icy shards.

"Liligant! Solar Beam!" The match has made me both angry and furious. Once again, I command Lily to hit the ceilings despite her not knowing what I'm up too.

The attack burst forth, causing the large boulder above Lorelei to collapse, setting a collision course for her and Cloyster. I was expecting it to only hit Cloyster when if fact it has also dealt damage to the trainer. Crush her bones, the boulder did. I had no intention of doing such a thing for I was only targeting the roof to make her Pokemon fainted.

Lorelei is no more but a pile of crushed body parts. Seeing, that I've killed an innocent elite, I knelt to the ground, thinking of my actions. Even the user of the move was indeed in total shock, regretting to follow my command. I am to be blamed for accidentally killing a former member of the Elite Four.

"Wh... What have I done?!" I scream to myself, regretting my decision. Tears, I could no longer hold them hence I let them flow freely. I then remember the reason why I didn't feel such regret before. Back at the tower, it was because of my aggression and uncontrolled emotions that gave me the confidence to nearly freeze Lorelei to death. My aggression has appeared once more. It has awakened again.

I stand from the ground, moving on and accepting the fact I've killed her. I remember my promise to Team Rocket and that is to kill anyone who stands in its path, I just merely fulfilled it in front of her eyes.