“I’m sorry to have to say this, sir, but June has lost all hearing in her left ear,” June’s doctor had told Gary as they both stood in the hallway of the hospital. “It seems something was forced into it. Something sharp. There are a few things you need to understand going forward.”

  Gary, June, and almost all of her Pokemon moved in silence while walking through the woods, Lanturn left in her Poke Ball.

  Electivire was walking closer to Gary, far from his own Trainer.

  Gary felt extremely uncomfortable, going over everything he had heard from the doctors a few days ago before they had all left the hospital.

  “She’ll be able to hear you fine enough, but there may be times when it won’t be as clear,” the doctor was saying.

  Gary couldn’t believe it, his eyes full of tears that would fall every few seconds as he stared at the floor.

  “She may have difficulties in crowded environments hearing properly. She may experience dizziness or confusion at times as she adjusts to this sudden change. The hearing aid she’ll be equipped with is simple.”

  All of this was too much to process or handle for Gary. He wasn’t even sure how he was still standing and not curled up in a ball, ripping his hair out while flooding the hospital with his tears.

  The path through the trees had opened up and the group stopped in front of a bridge over a river. The bridge was made of bricks and there was an alternate route leading down to the river.

  June, a mournful look on her face, turned to her right, where Gary was. Her face and overall body language made it clear she didn’t really want to face him.

  The two hadn’t spoken to each other since finding out about June’s handicap, silent even when leaving the hospital. And they remained quiet the following days for separate but related reasons they wouldn’t express to one another.

  Gary was feeling like a terrible person for not saying anything, but with June also not speaking, it only made him feel worse, like he was doing something wrong.

  June was surrounded by her Pokemon while on her knees in her hospital room. She no longer needed her casts but she was still bandaged and bruised.

  Pikachu, Raichu, Eevee, Magneton, Galvantula, Rotom, Manectric, Blitzle, Ampharos, and Lanturn were all around her, struggling to get attention from her, everyone in the room crying.

  Gary was outside of the room, watching solemnly through the window of the door.

  Electivire was nowhere to be seen. He had been there not long ago, when all of June’s Pokemon were sent out to reunite with her. The young girl looked overjoyed to finally see all her Pokemon, but when Electivire and June locked eyes, Electivire let out a sharp shout and made quick distance from her, his body sparking intimidatingly.

  Tears soon filled June’s eyes. By the time they were rolling down her cheeks, Electivire had left the room, ignoring Gary.

  Gary had glared after him as the Pokemon continued down the hall before disappearing around a corner.

  It’s not right, Gary now told himself, watching June sobbing. This is a chance to fix the issues!

  “Gary?” June let out.

  “Huh??” Gary was taken from his thoughts.

  The two kids stared at each other, their faces red.

  She looks really good, Gary admitted as he took in her features. I mean, considering all the abuse she went through! That’s all. What was the name of that makeup she uses? It’s pretty popular with Pokemon Trainers for covering up injuries and blemishes from travel. There’s hardly more than a couple of scratches and marks visible now!

  They finally looked away from each other.

  After breathing out, June asked, her eyes on the ground, “Are we crossing this bridge?”

  Gary looked to her and then away again. “Yeah,” he mumbled. A light snicker escaped his nostrils, the irony not lost on him. “I guess we finally are.”

  *

  It’s not the right time, Gary told himself. For any of this. This was supposed to be a happy moment. Us all back together. And yet- Gary swallowed a hard, large knot. This was never - gonna just be a happy reunion, was it? Sitting up in his sleeping bag, staring at June in her own sleeping bag, the burning sticks of wood giving the only light, he wondered for the thousandth time if she was truly asleep or not.

  Manectric, Magneton, Eevee, Blitzle, and Ampharos were all cuddled tightly around her. Galvantula and Rotom were elsewhere in the woods up to things Gary didn’t even want to know about, especially of Galvantula. Raichu and Pikachu had also gone off together. Lanturn was put in her Poke Ball to rest.

  Has she ever snored? Gary wondered, eyeing the scene.

  Electivire was snoring aggressively hard, sleeping closer but still distant from Gary, deliberately away from June. Gary was certain he was awake.

  By Gary were Riolu and Kirlia, for his own personal reasons. Snorlax was snoring noisily and swiftly, as if with urgency, but it was kind of cute and funny, and not intrusive like what Electivire was doing.

  June... Gary said in his head. He closed his eyes. After inhaling through his nose, unable to come up with any thoughts, he exhaled out of his mouth.

  The girl didn’t move an inch.

  To Gary, it seemed intentional. Did she know he was watching? Was she not moving on purpose? Or was she truly just asleep? I mean, how could anyone be asleep with all this snoring? June... he exhaled again. Fuck it. Whatever. Maybe she can’t even hear me. Gary’s thoughts froze as he processed something, and suddenly his eyes widened!

  There was a sharp hissing as a nasty, black finger continued slowly pushing into June’s left ear.

  With an angry rasp, the disgusting finger was yanked out by another monstrous hand.

  The long nail on the finger that had been in June’s ear was now stained with blood.

  June’s left ear... he thought. The dreams I had had her being tortured, and that’s what she looks like. I may not have the exact damages down, but the ear thing... Is it just a coincidence? It has to be... Fuck. Gary bit his bottom lip, almost saying the word out loud. I’m looking for something that isn’t really here. I denied all this so easily when Ish suggested the same shit, and yet here I am doing it all on my own. I know it’s impossible. I’m just desperate! After taking in a minute of silence, he considered, But - could all of this really mean nothing? It’s either all nothing, or entirely something! Right? Or no? How did it come to all this?! I’m just a child!! He felt like he was leaping off the edge of a cliff.

  Yeah, that’s what it is, isn’t it? Gary realized. I’m just a child. This is exactly what Team Solace has been saying!

  NO! Gary shook his head hard. No! Come on, Gary! Don’t fall for the stupid bullshit. Team Solace isn’t right at all. In any way. About anything! Pokemon don’t mean us any harm! Team Solace are a bunch of liars and manipulators! Right??

  Right!! Gary shouted back at himself. Are you really questioning this?!

  NO!! Gary answered. I’m just trying to put this all together!! Team Solace is evil!

  In his frustration, he grunted out noisily, and June sat up!

  Gary and June were staring at each other, both of their eyes wide with what could have been terror, or simple apprehension.

  Tears filled Gary’s eyes and he looked down and away. This is terrible, he knew. I should be happy that June is back. Things should be back to normal. But did I really think it would just be that simple? Is this awkwardness not to be expected? Maybe. But... He sniffled but quickly cleared his throat aggressively, covering up the previous sound, not wanting June to think he was crying. He swallowed and let out a cough that didn’t need to happen, simply creating distracting noises now, when a sound made his body freeze, his eyes widening again. “Huh?”

  The fluttering came first, and Gary freaked on the inside, turning swiftly. No! he begged in his head. “Please,” he whimpered, and before he knew it, a Poke Ball was enlarging in his hand.

  The swarm of Zubat flew in from out of nowhere, their wings flapping noisily, their voices squeaking sharply.

  This noise got the attention of Manectric, Eevee, and Ampharos, causing them to sleepily awaken.

  “NOOOOOOOOO!!” Gary screamed angrily, flailing his arms. Soon he was curled up in a ball, shaking with fright.

  “VIIIIIIIRE!!”

  There was a blast of blinding electricity, the screams of a young lady and several Zubat, and the scurrying and fluttering of monsters in the night.

  When the only sound left was Snorlax’s snoring, Gary cautiously looked about, his heart sitting on the back of his tongue and making him feel nauseous. After swallowing to keep everything down, he inhaled hard to calm himself, seeing that the Zubat were all gone. Breathing out shakily, his eyes stayed on something of interest. A Pokemon!

  A Rattata was on its back, its legs up in the air, twitching while sparking.

  “Electivire!! You almost caught me!” June cried out.

  Magneton, Blitzle, Riolu and Kirlia were awake now, surprised at the wake-up call.

  Only Snorlax was still asleep.

  “You have to be careful! I have my-!” She raised her hand to point at the left side of her head.

  Electivire growled, his body sparking, and he took a step forward to her.

  Her upper lip twitched nervously.

  “ELECTIVIRE!! STOP!!”

  June turned.

  Electivire turned, too.

  Gary was standing now. Both of his hands went into fists. Oh, he noticed, both of his hands empty. Thought I had a Poke Ball. Maybe I dropped it. He didn’t see it on the ground, so he pulled out a Poke Ball and casually tossed it at the unconscious Rattata.

  The Pokemon was captured easily and quickly.

  “Still two more, Kiwi,” he muttered quickly before his attention returned to Electivire. He leered at him and crossed his arms.

  June and all of her Pokemon were waiting in her hospital room, her Pokemon around her on the floor, atop the bed, or in the case of Rotom, Magneton and Galvantula, over the bed.

  Electivire was the only one glaring at her.

  June and her Pokemon stared back at him with apprehension.

  Gary was standing by the door, his arms crossed, watching the scene.

  No one had spoken for almost ten minutes.

  June was standing, a sad look on her face. “Electivire, can’t we just talk this all out already?”

  Gary wanted to bring up the information he knew about June and Electivire’s past, but it didn’t feel right. Not now. But watching this pushed on his urge to let it out.

  Electivire let out a nasty snarl and garbled something. His eyes then shot over to Gary for a moment.

  Gary’s eyes widened, his mouth falling open. Did he mention me? Does June know now?

  Electivire looked to June again and spoke a little longer.

  June frowned and pressed her lips together, shaking her head lightly with a light moan. “I’m sorry. I can’t hear you clearly.” Her eyebrows became wrinkled with concern and she let out another discomforted moan.

  Suddenly, Electivire’s body started sparking and he sent out a blast of lightning that curved sharply, avoiding June, and hit Raichu instead to no effect.

  June still screamed.

  Gary gasped, not believing his eyes.

  “Rai?” Raichu questioned with a sad look, his ears down and his head tilted.

  “ELECTIVIRE! STOP!!” Gary ran to the girl’s bed and he and all the Pokemon glared at Electivire. “She’s injured!” Gary’s voice cracked. “What are you doing??”

  Growling, his big hands in fists, Electivire kept hard eyes on June.

  The door for the room opened and June’s doctor stepped him, freezing up instantly at the tense scene. “Uh.” He held up one hand, a small item in it. “I’ve got the hearing aid...” he said slowly.

  “That’s enough!” Gary spoke strongly.

  Electivire’s body didn’t stop sparking. Rather, with a grunt, he walked away, grumbling and growling. He went far from everyone, standing in the darkness and trees with his arms crossed, glaring at June like a spoiled child mad at his mother.

  June kept a stunned stare on her Pokemon for a moment. She looked at Gary, and then went back to her Pokemon. “Huh? Wait a minute. What’s going on here?”

  Gary swallowed nervously. He shoved his hands in his pockets and lowered his head, unable to look at her. “June, a lot has happened,” he muttered.

  “Huh? I’m sorry, but, could you speak up?” Embarrassment now covered June’s face and she looked away. She gently touched the hearing aid in her left ear. “Never mind,” she whispered.

  “June! No! Wait!” He walked to her quickly, stopping just feet away, gripped by the uncomfortable situation. I can’t, Gary told himself. Not now. I can’t ask her now. He was stuck standing there now, unsure of what to do or where to go. Seeing June refusing to face him tore him up inside. He was afraid to even move. Why is this happening? he thought, shaking now. Why did this have to happen? Things were gonna always be rough at first, but it wasn’t supposed to be this. Hasn’t June been through enough? This is just wrong!

  Gary’s feelings were only further shattered as June scrambled to her feet and ran away into the night, crying out and sobbing. He and the remaining Pokemon kept their eyes on the last spot June was seen.

  Electivire’s huff made everyone turn and watch him also leave the site, but not in the direction June went.

  Everyone left then faced each other and then collectively stared at the snoring Snorlax.

  *

  “This is unbelievable!” June spoke as they stood on rocky terrain. “This area is all that’s left of Mt. Coronet after the attack! This is so dangerous!”

  The sun glowed overhead in a cloudy, blue sky. There was a gentle breeze for a chilly morning.

  “I know!! There was a time when the map wasn’t even useful because of an earthquake caused by a Tyranitar!! I had to be escorted by that Ranger to get back on the right path!!” Gary responded, taking in the scenery with her. “I didn’t tell you about the wild journeys I had with her!! I know my story is all over the place! It’s kinda hard to keep it in order!!”

  “You don’t have to shout, Gary,” June said gently.

  “Oh! I’m sorry.” Gary saw the sad look on her face. He had been intentionally speaking louder for her. Okay, but, she also has been speaking a little louder than she normally does, Gary kept to himself. Sometimes she speaks in her regular voice, but there’s times when she speaks louder, or kind of low. She must be trying to find the best way to speak and not stand out. This is bad. Oh, June.

  The ground they were on was broken and unstable, made up of rocks and boulders and impossible to walk through without stumbling. There was no actual path to take, and they just kept their distance from the signs and caution tape blocking off an even more destroyed and unwalkable course, giant machines to perform the cleanup presently sitting still, unmanned.

  All of June’s Pokemon were in their Poke Balls except for Raichu who stood beside her, and Electivire who was on Gary’s side, glaring the entire time.

  No one brought up a thing about last night so far, but Gary certainly was thinking of it no matter how much he talked about his journey, and he knew June was doing the same. He was uncomfortable talking, but contradictory as it seemed, the talking was all that was keeping back awkwardness! But now the awkwardness was back because no one knew what to say next.

  June was the one who finally moved on. “Did you say we were seeing a Gym Leader named Paul?”

  “Yes!” he said strongly, nodding hard, grateful she said anything. “Paul! He’s supposed to be one of the strongest Trainers in this region!” Not too loud, Gary, he reminded himself.

  After a bit of silence, June told him, “You can beat him.”

  Gary actually smiled. With a nod, he told her confidently, “I know I can.”

  “You beat impossible Trainers before, right? You said you beat that one woman. Pluto, right?”

  “Huh? Oh, you mean Jupiter!” Gary laughed.

  June was laughing with him after the correction. “Yes! Jupiter!”

  The two kids went on laughing.

  “You accomplished so much without me, Gary,” June said in her lowest voice of the day, keeping a slight smile.

  Gary got quiet. He was too busy trying not to break down. This was just too emotional.

  Neither Trainer said another word.

  *

  Beedrill hovered over June, most of her Pokemon, and all of Gary’s Pokemon, everyone in smiles.

  Gary was watching from the door to June’s room in the hospital, his arms crossed, also smiling.

  June was impatient about being checked out of the hospital. While waiting, she was eager to see Gary’s Pokemon. “I’m so glad for you, Gary! You got Beedrill back!” June was in tears.

  Gary smiled slyly at her. “And Porygon-Z will be gone for a while! I’m sure you’re grateful there!”

  June’s smile faded. “Hey, don’t say that...” Her voice trailed off, her smile entirely gone as she looked down.

  Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

  The mood of the room had just taken a tremendous dive.

  Shit. Maybe that was the wrong thing to say. Idiot! Gary scolded himself. “I’m so sorry, June! That was kinda fucked up of me!”

  June’s eyes widened, returning to Gary, and she let out a snicker. “Since when do you curse?”

  Gary was caught off guard by her question. “Oh. I’m sorry! Ha ha ha! No, I just - I guess my time working-! Uuuuhh...”

  “Working? What do you mean? Did you have a job?”

  Gary laughed lightly, rubbing the back of his head shyly. “I guess you were sleeping through that. Uuh, it’s quite the story...”

  “Is that the police up ahead?” June called out.

  Gary was taken from his thoughts. “Huh?” He looked around at the almost entirely dead, sandy surroundings.

  Amidst all the sand, there were a couple of trees without a single leaf on them. Little patches of grass were present as well, a few giant boulders in the distance. Other than that, the area was empty. It was like a place where one winds up by accident and then dies. Far off, away from the desert, a mountain and healthy, tall trees were visible.

  But long before that, a short distance from the kids and Electivire, were indeed a line of police cars.

  When did we even get here? Gary tried to remember.

  They hadn’t slept much last night and even skipped breakfast, the gang only continuing on due to Gary’s insistence.

  June had even recalled her Pokemon, aside from Electivire, worried about the sandy, dusty environment. “I wonder if something’s wrong. Maybe we can’t pass through! Uuuuugghh! I don’t wanna have to go back! We should have slept before this! Eaten!” June complained. “Do we even have water?”

  Gary rolled his eyes, but then found himself smirking. He forced it away before it could become vocal snickering and shot a glance at June.

  The girl was staring at the sandy ground, looking uncomfortable.

  She was talking. Gary recognized the significance of this. She was talking her mouth off like she used to. Maybe, things will get to be how they used to be, Gary hoped. In time. He looked away from her to see Electivire trudging ahead alone. He breathed out, shaking his head. Electivire... When should I bring up the things I know? What will I do when I do?

  The two kids caught up to Electivire when he stopped at the police cars.

  There were four cops in total, two males and two females, but Gary felt disappointment in his chest as he realized not one of the women was an Officer Jenny, or even attractive to him. But he just shook his head and watched as one of the ladies approached them, calling out.

  “You kids shouldn’t be out here!! We’re having an extermination in these parts!! There’s an overpopulation of Pokemon bugs in this area, and it’s been leading to deaths of Trainers just trying to pass, so the exterminators have to check things out!”

  Gary’s thoughts immediately went to the Jubilife Condominium, where an exterminator had been sent to kill off the invading Alolan Rattata and Alolan Raticate. “Bugs? There’s Bug types out here killing people?!” Gary exclaimed. This again? he thought. “But, wait! You can’t just kill off the Pokemon! There’s gotta be another way!”

  The officer lowered her head, closing her eyes. “I’m sorry, but the casualties are just too high.” Her voice was lower and more calm. Even a little regretful.

  A male officer was approaching now.

  “We have to send in the professionals to save lives.”

  “Save whose lives?! What about the Pokemon?!” Gary argued. “Can’t you just block off the area?? Look at Mt. Coronet!” Yeah! Good point, Gary! he congratulated himself. “The whole surrounding area is entirely blocked off! It’s not even really being guarded properly! Surely you can do the same for here!”

  The woman shook her head. “We’re not fumigating anything at Mt. Coronet. We’ve got poison set in the air and on the ground here. It’s not safe at all.”

  The male officer stopped beside the woman. “That’s right. And you little brats need to move on already! Damn kids with their stupid fucking opinions. Just go back! It’s that fucking simple! Maybe if you punks woulda stayed in school and learned a damn thing, like some discipline, you would listen to smarter adults!”

  “Hey, hey. Take it easy, Bush,” the female officer said, placing a hand on the taller man’s chest. “No need to lose it on some kids, right?”

  “NAH! I’m tired of the arguing when we’re right!” he fought back. “Bad enough these fucking adults wanna do it all the time and film us like we’re doing something wrong! Now it’s these children learning the shit!” He leaned close to Gary. “Little punk brats! Why don’t ya learn the damn law first before trying to start a damn fight?!”

  Gary was trembling but fighting to hold it in. “I-I’m not trying to fight! I just-!”

  “What you need to do is shut up and get the fuck outta my face!!”

  Gary’s eyes went to the cop’s badge, seeing the name Bush on it. “You’re in my face!” Gary responded in shock, looking back at the guy.

  “JUST BEAT IT, KID! If you and your girlfriend run past the cops, we can’t send in the exterminators and you’ll just be holding up the process! SO JUST GET OUTTA HERE!”

  Gary was angry, but also frightened. He’d had enough bad confrontations with police, but now he was remembering when he had been assaulted by them when in custody in Celadon City after being accused of kidnapping June and having involvement in the Saffron City massacre carried out by a Haunter.

  Gary finally just nodded. “Fine. Let’s just head back, everyone.” He turned from the cop and walked off, thinking about what he had been told.

  “You can’t just do that! I have your name and badge number!” June shouted. “I’m not letting this go! I’m a Gym Leader, and I’ll be sure-!”

  “You’re a Gym Leader?” Gary heard Officer Bush interrupt her.

  Suddenly, Gary stopped walking. June, he thought, having settled on an idea very quickly. The very instant it hit him, he knew he had no choice. Get ready, June. He whipped around and immediately charged back for the cops!

  Officer Bush and June were still fighting, but the officer’s eyes moved to Gary, went back to June, and then widened on Gary. He stood up straight and barked, “HEY!!”

  Gary ran past the cop as the man made a desperate grab for him.

  June gasped. “Gary!”

  “Vire!” Electivire was heard.

  Gary kept pumping his feet hard, tearing through the sand as he ran past the line of cop cars. There’s no cops other than those four? Gary realized. But all these cars? My luck! He kept moving through the sand, hearing footsteps and shouts, grunts and cries, and yells and groans behind him. He didn’t dare look back, moving so fast and with such urgency, sand flying up around him. The exterminators can’t do their job if I’m here! Gary told himself. Stupid cop gave it away. I can come here and save the Pokemon! Catch them; protest for them. This is what Rob would do! This is what any Trainer would! I can’t just sit back and let this-!

  There was a sudden rumble through the ground, and Gary’s eyes widened. An earthquake? he questioned, stopping. The rumbling stopped right after. What was that? A Pokemon, maybe? I have to keep moving! Gary was determined, knowing the further away he got, the harder it would be to stop him, and he could save more Pokemon. “WHOA!!” Gary was suddenly caught in a blast of sand swirling around him and he shut his eyes.

  “It’s a sandstorm!”

  “June?!” Gary cried out, surprised to be hearing her. He turned behind him but kept his eyes closed.

  A wondrous sound suddenly filled the area. It was an enchanting and pleasant song, with no music, rather the voice itself was so mystical it was its own instrument! The words weren’t understandable to Gary, but it sounded like a woman with an angelic voice was lulling him to a land of honey and warm biscuits. His heart felt uplifted and more positive than it had been in a long time. What is that wonderful sound?

  But the ground rumbled again, taking Gary’s mind off of the song. What is that? I gotta keep moving! He turned back and charged forward blindly, refusing to stop.

  Until BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!! Something burst out of the ground only inches in front of him!

  Gary’s eyes popped open as he inhaled hard through his nose and mouth, the scream that came out cut short swiftly as he began choking from the wild sands. He shut his eyes, blinded by the sand and spitting and sputtering out, but he managed to briefly see the monster that had come up from the ground with a loud shout. Covering his mouth and nose with his arm, Gary screamed again and fell backwards hard.

  June and Electivire were also shouting.

  Squinting to see as best as he could, Gary was screaming for the third time as another huge being was seen hovering low over the ground behind the first attacker, a couple of feet taller than it.

  “Electivire! Use... Use... Strength!” June ordered.

  “ELEEEEEEEEEECT-VAAAAAAAHH!!!” Electivire roared and several bolts of electricity came for the two threatening creatures.

  The two were unaffected and merely smirked at Electivire.

  “Vire!” Electivire cried out.

  “I TOLD YOU TO USE STRENGTH!!” June shouted. “I knew they had to be Ground types... Uuuuugh...” She was on the ground, her eyes closed and head down, shaking her shoulders with discomfort.

  Squinting with eyes full of tears, unable to see anything properly, Gary pulled out his Pokedex. Before he could scan anything, several more beings, some of one size, the rest of smaller size, scarily popped out through the sand like moles! They all hissed out at Gary and his companions.

  Krookodile. The Intimidation Pokemon. A Ground and Dark-type Pokemon. The evolved form of Krokorok. Its face is distinctive for intimidating opponents and prey. What makes things worse is this Pokemon’s extreme temper.

  Krokorok. The Desert Croc Pokemon. A-

  Krookodile was one of the two large Pokemon, and it wasn’t the patient type. As the Pokedex kept on speaking, it roared and lunged out for Gary!

  Gary screamed and scrambled to get away, but he knew he couldn’t move fast enough. He was dead meat! It was the shout from Electivire that made him stop and look back. Blinking out tears, he couldn’t believe what he saw!

  Electivire was on one knee, holding Krookodile’s jaws wide open! He snarled at the Pokemon.

  Krookodile was grunting back at him.

  “Electivire,” Gary’s voice trembled. He kept blinking hard, forcing himself to see if he wanted to have any hope of staying alive for even an extra second!

  Sandile. The Desert Croc Pokemon. A Ground and Dark-

  The Krokorok were the next to attack, five of them, all going for Electivire!

  The two Sandile who remained scurried through the sand, one aiming for Gary, the other going at June!

  June screamed.

  Gary grabbed two Poke Balls, tossing them with a shout before he had to shut his eyes up again. “GOOOO!!”

  Charizard landed and roared, Lanturn crying out as she landed.

  Gary rubbed at his teary eyes although he worried it might make things worse. “Flamethrower, Charizard! Lanturn, Protect June!” he called out blindly.

  Both Pokemon split, moving after a separate opponent.

  Charizard’s Flamethrower blasted away a single Sandile, Lanturn leaping in front of June and her body being covered by a turquoise shield that repelled the remaining Sandile.

  June was rubbing at her running eyes with one hand, but delight for the Pokemon was clear on her face. “Lanturn!” she cried.

  Gary grimaced his tight face at the levitating Pokemon with slowly flapping wings.

  Flygon. The Mystic Pokemon. The final stage of Trapinch. A Ground and Dragon-type Pokemon. When it kicks up sandstorms, it creates a haunting melody that enchants prey. Krookodile get along well with this Pokemon to share prey.

  “Well ain’t that great,” Gary said angrily.

  Electivire roared, furiously swinging and kicking at his several opponents.

  The Sandile that Charizard attacked tumbled in the sand and ended up on its back.

  Gary went into his pocket and came out with a Great Ball. “GOOO!!” He tossed it at Sandile.

  Sandile was hit and pulled inside, a perfect capture!

  The Sandile that was after June landed on its back but was back up in seconds and hissing at June and Lanturn.

  Lanturn yelled back at it.

  “VIRE! VIRE! VIIIIRRRRE!!” Electivire was fighting off the Krokorok, but the numbers were challenging.

  Krookodile was watching the Krokorok keeping Electivire busy.

  One Krokorok was chewing on Electivire’s leg, another on the back of his shoulder. While two of them were knocked out on the ground, Electivire was grappling with the last one.

  Snapping its jaws, Krookodile lunged for Electivire! Electivire’s eyes glowed blue as he focused on Krookodile, but Krookodile kept soaring and clamped its huge jaws on Electivire’s head!

  The Electric Pokemon roared out in a sharp panic, both June and Gary gasping in surprise. With a burst of energy, Electivire swung the Krokorok he was wrestling with into Krookodile, the both of them dropping, and then elbowed the Krokorok chewing on his back, and finally raised the leg the last Krokorok was chewing on and slammed it into the sand. He was freed from all of them now.

  Krookodile and Electivire stood staring the other down as sand swirled around them, Flygon in the back keeping the sand and song going.

  Gary fought not only with keeping his eyes open in the blinding sand and not retch it out from between his teeth, but to also mentally remain focused on the frightening situation as the flowing, gentle tune convinced him things were just fine. Forcing himself to keep in mind that his life had nearly come to an end, and if they didn’t stop this threat, it still could.

  But for now, it looked like Electivire was handling the main issues.

  “KROOOOOOOK!!” Krookodile lunged at Electivire again.

  Electivire stood his ground and caught the opponent, wrapping his arms around its neck.

  But Krookodile turned its head around and opened its jaws wide enough to chomp Electivire’s head right off, its sharp teeth glowing white to attack!

  Electivire was ready. He leaped and came back down, slamming Krookodile on its back, making it groan out.

  Suddenly, Krookodile was smiling. “Krooook...”

  One by one, small things leaped out from the sand and latched onto Electivire. One had Electivire’s arm, and another grabbed the other arm. Yet another familiar monster grabbed a leg, a fourth getting the other leg. It was a bunch of Trapinch and they were all biting Electivire!

  He cried out, shocked by the sneak attack.

  “Krooo hooo hoooooo hoooookodiiiillle!” Krookodile cackled. It raised a claw that became coated in a black aura with a purple outline and slashed at Electivire.

  “Vaaaaaiiiiire!!” Electivire glowed white in the spot he was hit, taking a Critical Hit. He tumbled and struggled to get up, but suddenly several more Trapinch leaped from the sandy ground!

  “He needs help, Charizard!” Gary pointed.

  “Lanturn, Hydro-!” June added. “Yaaaahh!”

  Four more creatures leaped out from the ground, joining the Sandile that June’s Lanturn had been dealing with. More Trapinch! They all jumped at Lanturn.

  Electivire called out helplessly as even more Trapinch appeared and began to swarm him, biting and holding him down, overwhelming him by their numbers.

  That sound! Gary realized. Isn’t that-? He was going to look to the sky, but instead turned at the sound of his Charizard’s roar.

  His Pokemon was covered in so many Trapinch, he couldn’t even be seen! The Fire type would send out a blast of Fire to get rid of some of the Trapinch, but another Trapinch or four would pop up immediately to replace them. He fell to his knees, fighting off the Trapinch with Slashes and Flamethrowers, but the Trapinch kept coming, refusing to make things easy.

  “CHARIZAAAAARD!! This is insane!!” Gary couldn’t believe what he was seeing. This is like some kind of infestation!

  Trapinch after Trapinch after Trapinch after Trapinch came out of the ground, encircling Gary and June.

  Gary grabbed for another Poke Ball, his heart ready to explode with panic. “Fuck!”

  “YOU KIDS GET DOWN!! NOOOOW!!!”

  BANG!

  One Trapinch toppled over onto its back, its stomach blown apart! Its blood and innards were spilled all over the sand!

  BANG!

  Another Trapinch went down the exact same way!

  BOOM!

  With that, a Trapinch’s head was in pieces, the body collapsing! One by one, the Trapinch around the kids were blowing up!

  Disgusted and confused at what was going on, Gary looked away, up to the sky, where he saw the source of a continually growing sound. Oh! That is what I thought I’d heard! he thought, watching in awe.

  Seven black helicopters were approaching carrying officials with guns aimed at the ground. Flashing and blaring police cars, motorcycles, and huge black vans were making their way through the sand.

  There were several angry shouts that made Gary look back, and he couldn’t believe his eyes!

  The remaining Trapinch, Sandile, Krokorok, Krookodile and Flygon weren’t paying attention to their victims anymore. Instead, they all were focusing on the approaching officers!

  Krookodile called out as the slaughter of the Trapinch was still happening, body parts flying, blood spraying, all kinds of grotesque sights displayed. “KROOK!” The left shoulder of Krookodile shed sudden blood. The Pokemon stumbled backwards, grabbing its shoulder. “Krook...” It looked up, and Gary had to close his eyes as the Pokemon’s body was stained with several bursts of blood as bullets came in from all over. The last thing Gary saw was half of Krookodile’s face rip apart.

  More bullets were coming down, making Gary and June cover their heads and hit the ground. Tears ran down Gary’s face as he trembled, praying silently for his life.

  *

  “You’re the perfect kind of victim to push the narrative of Team Solace,” Deputy Chief Officer Jenny told the kids, brushing at the back of her hair briefly. Her outfit was like any other Jenny’s but was maroon, including her high heels, and she wore a closed, black dress coat with large red buttons down the front.

  “What does that mean??” Gary exclaimed.

  “I mean that Team Solace manipulated you. Doubling as Team Solace members, our officers purposely insisted you can’t go in there because it would stop the extermination of Pokemon. This was said deliberately to plant the idea in your head to run right in. I’m sure plenty of other Pokemon Trainers would have felt obliged to do the same thing. Especially if they were young and foolish enough. There’s plenty of reckless types like you who would do that, and they found a pair of ‘em.”

  Gary’s heart thumped with embarrassment as he pressed his lips together, holding back what he could feel were tears building up. He knew she was right. He had been stupid to do such a thing, just like when he and Robin had risked their lives to save the Rattata and Raticate.

  “Officer Bush was banking on you being killed by the extermination process or by the bugs running out there. The Trapinch problem.”

  “The Trapinch? Those aren’t Bug types. Right?” Gary questioned.

  Deputy Chief Officer Jenny sighed impatiently, rolling her eyes. “No, they’re not Bug types, but by all means they are a kind of insect. You know, like how not all dragons are Dragon type? Like Gyarados? Charizard? The evolution of Trapinch is Vibrava. They don’t fly well for long. They’re saprotrophs, so basically, they eat dead matter to grow strength in their wings before evolving into Flygon. They wait for food to be brought to them by the leader, Krookodile, and that’s why you didn’t see them with Flygon and the others. Krookadile works well with Flygon since they can manipulate the field with sand and a calming song, but Krookadile runs things. That said, believe it or not, it’s actually the innumerable number of Trapinch that are causing the biggest issues.”

  “That’s incredible...” June muttered, her eyes down. “It’s like an ecosystem...”

  Gary couldn’t find any more words and just nodded, his mouth open a little.

  “So Team Solace tricked us, using their position as police officers, to send us out there to die and justify their cause...” June’s stern eyes stayed down. Nothing was said for a moment, until, “I wanna say I can’t believe it. I don’t want to believe that - their reach extends this far...”

  Gary just shook his head, wanting to slam his fist into something indestructible. Damn it! Where does it stop?! This has to end! Team Solace has to end! This is just insane now! All because of them, all their setups, this was- Gary’s thoughts came to a pause. He stared hard at Deputy Chief Officer Jenny. “Hey.”

  June and the Jenny turned to Gary.

  They were all standing inside of a police station in Veilstone City, having been safely taken there by numerous authorities. Gary and June had their Pokemon left at the Pokemon Center, the kids themselves looked over by Nurse Joy.

  Lanturn, Charizard and Electivire had numerous injuries, but none too severe.

  “This extermination project, of the Trapinch. You admit that it was real?” Gary pressed her angrily.

  The Jenny glared back at the child. “Listen, kid. I never denied why we were actually out there. Team Solace was never meant to be a part of it. Admittedly, we were infiltrated, and I take full blame for that. We fucked up here. I’m sorry, Gary. But, yes, we were out here on a very secretive mission to exterminate the issues. There are far too many of the Trapinch out here, and they’re killing. Out of hunger, yes, but they’re killing children and adults, Trainers and their Pokemon, and the leftover corpses feed the Vibrava, and it’s a massive cycle that will never end if we don’t step in. An ecosystem.” She shot June a quick look before returning to Gary.

  June did flinch, but that was all, her gaze never rising back.

  “We did a similar mission in Kanto. There was a beach full of Trapinch that me and my assigned group had to get involved in and exterminate. We found a lot of bones buried out there, kid.”

  “In Kanto...?” Gary's mouth fell open in horror. Where was that area? She couldn’t mean-?

  “Yeah. In Kanto, a year ago.”

  Gary’s heart fell so hard hearing this. There’s no fucking way!

  She made fists and glared at the floor, baring her teeth in a sneer. A huff of air came out and then she said, “I really don’t like thinking about the things we saw out there.” She looked up again, staring at the ceiling. “But this is a job. When things get out of hand, exterminations and regulations are not unheard of. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news. But, if not for us, you all would have just been another unnamed statistic! We did what we had to do and it paid off!”

  Gary leered at her briefly before lowering his eyes. He could hear the news playing from the tablet of another officer in the back, but he wasn’t paying attention to that. He was too bothered by what Jenny had said. No matter how much he tried to rephrase what she said in his head, he couldn’t find any significant ways to make it sound acceptable.

  The facts were, there was a major attack led by Pokemon, and if not for the authorities coming in to kill them, Gary and his friends were surely dead.

  Team Solace may have been involved here, but they got a point for this, Gary admitted. Not from me, but when this news breaks, this is gonna be a major success for them. The people are already scared enough as it is. This isn’t the news Pokemon fans needed.

  “Anyway, I have things to take care of, kid! Just be smarter next time, okay?!” Deputy Chief Officer Jenny didn’t look back at him and just left swiftly, impatiently, irritably.

  Other cops who were standing around looked away as she walked past.

  Gary watched her as she left. His eyes were specifically on her backside, although her shape couldn’t be seen properly due to the dress coat. Despite this, he kept staring, inadvertently rubbing at his cheek, before some loud, goofy laughter broke his attention.

  “Hey!” It was the cop with the tablet. “Yo! Look at this one, George!” He laughed even louder as he walked over to a man just a few feet away in full riot gear, only the helmet removed and still holding his shield.

  The man named George let out a sigh, rolling his eyes before looking back at the cop with the tablet.

  “You’re gonna love this one, George! This girl really opened a Poke Ball in her mouth!”

  From Gary’s position, he could see the tablet displaying the news story. The boy couldn’t believe his eyes!! Unable to stop himself, and not wanting to, he slowly snuck closer to them.

  “Gary?” June said softly.

  On-screen was a beautiful girl with curly brown hair and blue eyes. A slightly chunky young lady with what Gary knew used to be a beautiful smile.

  There’s no way! Gary shook his head hard. Si-?!

  “Sierra Parson is being kept company by her boyfriend, Brett Townsend, as the two get through her torment together,” spoke an unseen female reporter.

  None other than Sierra was now shown in a hospital bed, the face that Gary once found so enchanting and gorgeous now wrapped up in gauze at the lower half. The damage was so bad, the upper half of her face looked out of place, her eyes mostly rolled up.

  She looks... Is she-? Is she even alive?? He swallowed with nausea, sickened at the sight.

  “The Poke Ball Challenge, which involves people placing Poke Balls in their small size, in their mouths, and then pressing the button to make them larger, has caused several severe injuries across the world, and why this young lady would still participate despite the obvious and televised risks, is certainly beyond me.”

  Why would she-? Is she stupid? Gary thought, shaking his head, disbelief on his face.

  The image of the injured Sierra shrunk and went to the upper-left corner of the screen, a Black news reporter shown standing in a white, sleeveless dress. She shook her head and her eyes actually rolled a tiny bit. It was quick, but it was there.

  Gary’s heart was beating faster as his eyes focused on the woman’s pronounced bust and admired the contrast of the bright dress against her dark shoulders before he stared back at the picture of Sierra.

  “Despite the horrifying image, it is expected she should recover just fine from her injuries without any lasting damages.”

  Gary listened to this, looking at a girl he had once dated. Once loved.

  “The young lady herself has issued the urge for no one else to try this challenge. And vows to never do it again.”

  Gary recalled the short time he had spent with Sierra at PokeLand Discounts. A boyfriend...? he recalled. And his eyes began to water.

  But as the officer continued to cackle heartily, Officer George rolling his eyes and sneering, barely snickering while shaking his head with annoyance.

  Right before the next report started.

  Right before Sierra’s picture went away.

  Gary’s eyes on her injured, pitiful face.

  The tears vanished quickly, and Gary muttered coldly, with no regret in his heart, “Idiot.”