Swanna Song, Sung Throughout Sinnoh

Gary sat up, startled. “June!” he let out. “OW!”

There were more startled reactions around him, Electivire and Raichu sitting up.

The phone was blaring, the alarm going off.

Gary raised his injured hand off the ground and used his other hand to cut off the alarm. He then swallowed. “Ouch,” he whispered, shaking the hand lightly, feeling it throbbing. Breathing out, he lowered his gaze and thought back on the nightmare he just had. June... What was it this time...? He could see her falling to the ground from a high place, screaming. But that was it. In another memory, there was something flying through the sky, and... something about that involved June. He couldn’t remember clearly. His left palm slapped his forehead and his hand then lowered, his fingers now rubbing his eyes, and finally, he looked to the cave opening and squinted from the brightness from the sun. He wanted to curl back up and sleep, but he had set that alarm for a reason.

According to Prof. Oak’s notes, the time to see Jirachi was in mere hours, and Gary wanted to be ahead of time. It was nine o’clock now, and Gary got started with all of the hygienic necessities that he could actually accomplish, like brushing his teeth, using the bathroom, and, that was really all he was able to do. I’ll bathe whenever I can finally find a body of water or just a Pokemon Center, but I really should look into those products the female Trainers are known for using, Gary told himself. Those face cleansers that don’t require water like soap does. Women always know the best skin-care products, huh? Ha. I wonder if June has something like that in her bag...

After he was taken care of, he took care of the Pokemon, sending them out once their bowls were out and filled, and introduced the latest change, Stantler. She was terribly shy and ran as far as she could, so Gary went over to her with her food and instructed the other Pokemon to leave her alone and allow her to warm up on her own. All of these tasks were hard to do with only one hand and as careful as Gary was trying to be, he kept crying out in pain from accidental bumps and movements.

Finally, Gary was biding time, sitting and taking handfuls of cereal out of a box and tilting his head back, his mouth wide before letting the food tumble in.

Most of the Pokemon were already done eating by now and were on to other things.

Primeape was punching at the rock walls, burning energy.

Riolu was watching with admiration and mimicking the punches, but not hitting the wall.

Primeape would occasionally nod at her happily, looking down at her adoringly, and then go back to punching more eagerly than before.

Raichu was watching them happily, pleased with their pleasant interaction.

Scizor sat by herself, leaning against a wall, looking awkward.

Stantler was clonking around shyly behind Gary, looking at the others slightly but mostly with her head down.

Magneton was outside, taking in the sun.

Lanturn was laughing at Magikarp as he flopped around.

Electivire was sitting by the entrance to the cave, watching all of the Pokemon.

Gary couldn’t tell if Magikarp had touched a single bite of his food and just returned him to his Poke Ball. That’s Raichu, Electivire, Stantler, Magikarp, Lanturn... I feel like something is missing... He rubbed the back of his neck as it prickled. Who else...?

A sound grabbed his attention, from above. This made him uncomfortable, and slowly, he looked up.

Galvantula was sliding down a string from a web, her legs waving wildly!

Gary’s scream echoed throughout the cave, and the entire mountain they all had settled on.

*

Gary walked through the freezing winds, a lot on his mind. My sister... That monster... Team Solace... June... Prof. Oak... Where does it all end? How? When? Why does this have to happen to me? He tried to inhale hard through his nostrils, ending up with a stuffy snort. A grunt behind him had him look back to see Electivire a distance away, walking with his head down, carrying June’s bag. And this guy, Gary thought as he stopped walking. Who knew he had so much going on? But I saw it clearly through telepathy. I know the truth now. But what do I do with that? What does it mean for us all once I save her?

Electivire looked up and stopped walking.

Both Pokemon and child stared at each other in silence, the only sound the howling wind.

Gary looked to the path they were going along and continued on it. After a bit of time, he peeped back, making sure Electivire was still following.

He was.

Gary felt like now, there was truly nothing stopping Electivire from staying with him, and nothing he could do to convince him to stay. He wasn’t his Pokemon to begin with, but now that the secret was out, things had become silent and awkward between them. Gary even put Raichu back in the Poke Ball, no longer concerned Electivire would strike, and so far, he was right. June, abusing Pokemon. I just... I can’t! How in the world? Why? Why wouldn’t she explain this to me? Fess up to it? I would never believe this had I not seen it with my own eyes... Or... my mind. Whatever. This is just unbelievable. There’s nothing I can ever say again about Electivire attacking June.

The sun was high up, but it provided next to no help against the freezing temperature and threatening winds.

And now, Gary stopped at a curve.

It was a thin path ahead going around the mountain, and with such strong winds, everything seemed to reach a definitive end.

Crap... He breathed out of his mouth and turned to Electivire. “Yo, I think maybe you should wait here.”

Electivire stopped walking and looked up.

“And watch the Pokemon. Including mine. In case things go wrong here.”

Electivire frowned and shook his head. “Electivire. Electivire.” He walked up to Gary and continued on, approaching the tight curve.

“Electivire!” Gary grabbed his arm, stopping him.

Electivire yanked his arm free, growling, but he didn’t face Gary.

“Electivire, please. This is too much. I won’t jeopardize your lives for my own goals. There’s gotta be a better way.” Do I have anything big that can fly? Other than Charizard? “Maybe I can check out what Pokemon I own and see if we can just fly through this.” He went through his Pokedex for a bit. “Okay, Sabrina is an option to trade for, but I might weigh too much for her... It’s a risk.” After pressing a couple of buttons, he nodded. “Her weight, her height, not gonna happen.” Continuing through the Pokedex, he mumbled, “Or maybe if I-” A rumble from afar grabbed Gary’s attention, the mountain itself quaking lightly. Something loud and heavy, but definitely far away. Gary’s eyes widened. “Jirachi?” he whispered. “Was that it?” He and Electivire faced each other. “Has it landed? Was that it?? I can’t miss this! I have to go! Now!” He glared at the big Pokemon. “Electivire, wait for me here. For once, just listen! Please!” He grabbed the Poke Balls from his belt and held them out to Electivire.

The Pokemon held out his hands and the six balls fell into his palms.

“If anything happens, get out of here and get these guys to safety. Y’all are free to go wherever you want. Just get off this mountain.” There’s nothing any of my Pokemon can do for me, Gary knew. He looked beyond Electivire to the dangerous, thin road. It’s too dangerous to be trying anything here, and I don’t have time to come up with a plan. I think it’s here already! Jirachi! “I have to get going.” He walked past Electivire and stood at the curve. A deep breath was taken in by his mouth, and then blown right out. His right hand raised, bandaged and throbbing, and he sighed. How am I supposed to do this with an injured hand? With a sigh, he had his answer. I just have to. Somehow. He raised his left leg up, preparing to take the first step.

The mountain rocked lightly with another loud but distant boom that came with billowing wind.

Again? What is that? More than one Jirachi landing? Gary wondered, his foot lowering. Is it really Jirachi at all? Oh, man. If there’s two, I can save the whole world for sure! I can make everything right with six wishes! I don’t have time to think. Prof. Oak’s notes, his information, can’t be only stuff he knew. That Hiker could have been after Jirachi, too. Other people could be ahead of me right now, or right behind me. I have to get to the Jirachi first! Before anyone!

Gary stepped ahead, and with another step, he flattened his body against the wall. He kept his injured hand behind his back, but the movement still caused him to groan out. He had enough room to actually walk, but it was too close to risk it, especially with the on-and-off winds and shaking mountain. Slowly, he slid his way along the wall, trying to be careful, but also urgent to get off of this deathtrap. Gary looked back to Electivire.

He hadn’t left his spot, watching with a glare.

Gary swallowed and nodded. Good. He actually listened. Maybe the big oaf is actually afraid. He turned back to the path and swallowed. I can use my final wish to get the heck off this thing safely, Gary half-joked to himself. The child was hit with sudden realization that made him go still. Who am I to make such a call? Why am I so selfish? This is exactly what people like my family, and Ish, have been telling me! I’m putting my needs so far ahead that even three wishes aren’t enough, and I need six! What’s wrong with me? Who am I? How dare I? Blinking himself out of his thoughts, he felt like he was going to fall and pushed his face hard into the rocky wall to confirm to himself that he wasn’t. With that cold reassurance from the rock wall, he kept moving. Just don’t look down, he told himself. Don’t look down. Of course, thinking this only made him want to do it that much more.

More winds came, roughly shoving at him.

Gary groaned with fear and discomfort. Damn it, he cursed. Please, just don’t quake again. Pleeeeease! Where is the end to this? He tried to see, but the path kept curving, making it impossible. The poor boy was trembling in the cold, and the fact his nose was blocked and he could only breathe through his mouth seemed to make the journey a lot harder somehow. He stared back towards Electivire, but he was now out of sight. This comforted Gary somewhat. It meant he had made some distance. But how much longer did he have to go?

A strange sound was suddenly heard. A kind of raspy, low hissing of sorts.

Must be... the air, or something, Gary came up with. Up here, air and heat rising, but somehow gets cold, and it must cause hissing like the air out of a tire. None of that made any sense, but it was too frightening to be hearing things, with the wind blowing, while inching along the edge of a loud, trembling mountain. Gary just needed anything to believe in! He needed some kind of mental ease! He inhaled big and held it, continuing on. It came out in a happy laugh!

The edge! He spotted it! The landing looked so beautiful! No famous architectural structures matched the magnificence of that wide-open space right now. He inhaled swiftly before his body could get too eager and try to just slip across to safety. Easy, Gary. Take it slow. This isn’t the time to die. You’re almost there. And we’ll definitely use one wish to get off this thing! Or maybe not. If I can save more lives, and help the world, my little old life is worth losing in the process. As long as it means-

With a scream, something leaped up the side of the mountain, right in front of Gary! Towering well over him was an Arbok!! “CHAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!”

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!” Gary responded. “AN ARBOK!! NOOOOO!!” Of all times, why now?! Where did it even come from?! Shhiiiiiiit!!

“CHAAAAAAAARBOKAAA!!” Arbok flicked its tongue out at him and inched closer.

Gary had nowhere to go. No. Gary’s eyes narrowed. This isn’t how I go out, you stupid thing. Not pressed up against a wall. He moved off of the wall, his body facing Arbok, and his uninjured hand made a tight fist. Pokemon or not, I’ll fight you myself, then!

Arbok lunged at him.

Gary screamed, waiting for his chance to swing, or kick, or do anything!

Something lunged in between the both of them with a stern shout.

Gary took one step back, terror taking over and then forcing his body to a still.

Arbok chomped on the sudden stranger. “CHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHAAAAAHHHAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!!” Arbok wailed, letting go of the thing with pain, tears falling down its eyes.

The thing that had appeared was very short and ugly and looked like a cocoon. With a cry, it slammed into Arbok, knocking it backwards.

Arbok stood tall, calling out threateningly at the little creature. Its eyes then looked beyond the new creature.

The thing Arbok was facing also looked behind it.

In a loud rage, Gary was charging past the little monster, going for Arbok, and stopped.

Arbok looked surprised and hissed at Gary while flicking its tongue out.

Gary pulled back his leg, and after one mere second of hesitation, kicked the big snake off the mountain!

Arbok screamed out as it went over!

Gary and the little thing that saved him looked over the edge carefully, watching as Arbok screamed all the way down, disappearing with a bright twinkle. The Trainer then let out his breath and turned to the Pokemon. “I couldn’t let that thing stop us. No way, right?” He smiled, but he could have puked from the shock that he had actually done that!! He couldn’t believe that amount of courage was within him, nor that it had just come bursting out like that, but it also made a lot of sense. This close to everything being fixed in his life, he couldn’t let it end here like that. Swallowing, he thought, Sorry, Arbok. I hope you’re okay, but... I had to. Looking back over the edge, he wondered, That Arbok... Why do I keep running into those things? It can’t be the same-

The new being bounced in place in front of Gary.

“Hey, what are you, anyway?” He took out the Pokedex as the creature bounced and spoke.

Pupitar. The Hard Shell Pokemon. The evolved form of Larvitar. A Rock and Ground type Pokemon. Its shell is comparable to bedrock. Using the compressed gas within, they can propel themselves and with their power, topple an entire mountain.

“No way!! That’s crazy! Just one of you can do that??”

Yes.

Gary stared with stunned eyes at his Pokedex’s short response.

“Pupitar! Pupitar!” Pupitar bounced in front of him happily.

That’s just... impossible, Gary thought, smiling at the Pokemon. “Well, take it easy in that case and let’s get off this thing first, okay?” Gary smiled warily.

“Pupitar!” Pupitar happily bounced ahead, getting off of the dangerous bit, and then bounced in place again, urging Gary to follow.

“Right,” Gary nodded, and started walking until a big burst of wind hit him. “OH!” He stumbled back a couple of steps.

And his second step went over the edge!

Screaming, he dropped to both knees and scrambled frantically. He was in pain immediately, his right hand aching, and he ended up rolling to the wall of the mountain. He cowered, waiting for the wind to end, as well as the pain in his hand. When they did, he quickly crawled on his knees and only good hand off the thin platform. “I think that’s it for me and mountains!” Gary said loudly to the ground, heaving hard.

“Pupitar! Pupitar!”

“Pupitar!”

“Pupitar!”

“Pupitar!”

Gary looked up, seeing the one Pupitar that had helped him out, but there were more cries behind him, too! Remaining on his hand and knees, he looked back and gasped.

Several Pupitar were standing there, a few of them bouncing in place. They all had such nasty faces, but the bouncing ones seemed to have a more friendly energy.

Or at least Gary hoped. He stood up and turned to the one Pupitar he was familiar with. “These guys are friendly, right?”

BOOOOOM!

Gary yelled out, trying to keep his balance as the mountain quaked a lot harder.

A Pupitar had slammed into the side of the mountain, and the others were now bouncing in place after this.

“Wait, it’s just you guys doing that? It’s not...?” Gary said with disappointment.

“Pupitar! Pupitar!” the Pupitar by Gary jumped around.

Gary smiled at it. I can’t even battle one of these guys since my Poke Balls aren’t even with me. Forced to breathe through his mouth only, his nose stuffed, he thought, Oh, well. ...However...

As an idea came to Gary’s head, a bright light blinded everyone, and Gary shielded his eyes as he backed up a bit, squinting in shock.

*

“Pidgeooooo!!” Sabrina flew around the curve of the mountain, a big black duffel bag in her talons. She dropped it at Gary’s feet and flew around happily.

“Sabrina, great job!” He went through the bag and found his six Poke Balls immediately. He then got Electivire’s Poke Ball out of the bag, labeled with an E sticker, and sent out the Pokemon.

“Electivire!” Electivire smiled, flexing his arms. His smile went away as he looked around, his eyes first going to Gary, and then to the gang of Pupitar and the newest Pokemon, a Tyranitar. “Vire!” He glared at Tyranitar.

Tyranitar cried out with a happy face and ran up to Electivire. It wrapped him in a big hug and hoisted him up.

Electivire’s eyes were wide, not believing what was going on. He struggled and kicked to free himself, but Tyranitar had him locked up. When he was finally released, he rubbed his arms, sneering at Tyranitar. “Elect,” he growled.

“Take it easy, everyone. Come on, now. Electivire, glad to see you. This is a friend. These all are. Tyranitar here, and the Pupitar. Let’s all be nice.”

Electivire curled his arms, his fists under them, and his horns sparked.

Tyranitar just jabbered happily at Electivire.

“Like I said, he’s not too friendly, but he’s a good guy who’s been through a lot,” Gary tried with Tyranitar. “Please, don’t be too offended.”

Tyranitar nodded, smiling with its eyes closed.

“Vire??” Electivire looked at Gary with wide eyes and then got angry. “VIRE ELEC VIRE VIRE!!”

“Please, man. I can’t anymore with you,” Gary said wearily.

“IS THAT A TYRANITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRR???!!!!!?!!!?!?!” a voice exploded from afar.

Everyone turned to see a figure charging towards them, down from the upper area of the mountain.

This person was babbling incoherently now, getting closer.

Gary squinted at this woman. Something looked so familiar about her, and before he recognized who it was, he knew that something deep down inside knew her, his heart turning to ice and dropping hard.

The woman got closer.

Gary squinted harder.

The woman was even closer.

Gary blinked repeatedly. Who...?

Tyranitar let out a big roar and then charged for the woman!

Gary and Electivire gasped at this.

Tyranitar and the woman stopped right in front of each other, held hands, and started stomping their feet in an eager dance, making the entire mountain quake and rumble!

“OH! Let’s not do that!” The woman burst into laughter.

Tyranitar laughed oddly, its hands waving with excitement. It was like a gigantic child.

The woman cut her laughter short and squinted directly at Gary and then Electivire, and finally Sabrina. She turned to the Pupitar, and then went back to Sabrina, Electivire, and lastly Gary. “Nice to meet you, stranger. Or I hope it is. Do you like Bug and Ghost type Pokemon? Do you own Bug and Ghost type Pokemon?” She approached Gary.

It was with those questions that Gary was now remembering her, but he still wanted to believe that she could possibly be somebody, anybody, else!

Still squinting at him, the woman stood several inches taller. She had a brown, furry ushanka covering most of the dark-blonde hair on her head, a Sewaddle on top. Her hands were in thick, black gloves, her legs in thick, black pants. She wore a big brown and red coat with a furry hood at the back. A rope was around her brown belt. A brown bag hung from her shoulder, another big white hiking bag on her back. Her feet rested inside long black boots, the black fur tops stopping just past her ankles. In her arms was a red blanket bundled up. The woman leaned in closer, squinting more.

Gary took a step back, not minding if he fell off the mountain this time considering he was getting more and more convinced by the second exactly who this was.

An old acquaintance of his during his journey in Kanto. Someone whose Pokemon literally saved his life twice. Someone - who was completely out of their mind.

“Uh,” Gary uttered.

“You do, don’t you? I mean, you must!” she smiled, keeping in Gary’s face. “Who doesn’t love Bug type Pokemon? They’re only the greatest types of them all and Ghost types are also just as great, so it’s like they’re one singular type. Like, Bughost. Or, Ghostug. Ha ha ha ha I crack myself up ‘kay bye!” She strolled past him. “I’ll see you guys later I’ve got Jirachi and gotta go make my wisheeeeeeees ‘kay byyyyyyyyyyye!” She skipped along and started crossing the thin path just as haphazardly.

Gary watched her with wide eyes, not believing what she was about to do. Then, her words finally smacked him upside the head. “Jirachi??! HEY!! STOOOOP!!!” Gary ran up to where the safe bit of the mountain ended, stopping at the thinner route.

The woman stopped and looked back at him, her eyes wide. “Hey, you’re right. What am I thinking??” She skipped right back across, reaching where Gary was as the boy moved out of her way. “We never got down to business. Do you like Bug and Ghost type Pokemon?”

“FORGET THAT!! Did you just say you have-??”

“Forget it?? There’s nothing more important than Bug and Ghost type Pokemon! How dare you!” She looked mortified, holding the blanket bundle closer to her chest. “What I’m asking is crucial, and depends upon the level of judgment I must bring upon your head, stranger. Stran. Ger. Stranger.”

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! Gary erupted in his mind, memories, flashbacks, traumatic experiences flooding his head as he recalled the long day he had definitely spent with this woman back in Kanto last year. “You... You...! You’re that girl! The Ranger! From... Celadon! I think? Back in Kanto!”

“Hmmmmmmmmmmm????” She cocked her head, raising an eyebrow. She then smiled big, her mouth open huge! “BUTTERFREE BOOOYYYY!!!” She was now glaring. “Yeah, I do remember you.”

Gary blinked in surprise. Butterfree Boy...? “My name is Gary!” he said angrily. At this weird, new nickname, he couldn’t help but feel upset, considering he had always referred to the late Bug Gym Leader Tera as the Butterfree girl. It was a memory he made a lot of progress in not thinking about anymore. But now it was back.

“Okay. Gary. Anyway, where’s your Butterfree! She’s gone, isn’t she? You released her, right? I knew it! I knew I should have taken her from you when I had the chance! Where’d you release her? I’ll find her right now! Just you wait and see! I’M OFF!!” She ran back to the thin path.

“WAIT!!” Gary ordered.

She froze in place, stuck in a running position, one leg up behind her, smiling.

“First off, I still have my Butterfree, okay? Secondly-”

The woman suddenly ran in reverse, as if someone had hit the rewind button on life. “Then show me her! Where is she then, huh?” she insisted, leaning in Gary’s face, her hands on her hips. “Which Poke Ball is it?” Keeping the blanket in one arm, she reached out with her other to Gary’s waist, trying to get a Poke Ball from it.

“HEY!” Gary grabbed at her arm, not wanting to shove her while on the edge of a mountain, but struggling to save his personal space. “HEY!” he repeated as the blanket in her arm unraveled just a tiny bit, revealing something within.

The woman gasped and held the thing closer to her.

What was inside cried out lightly.

“Is that it??” Gary cried.

The woman pulled the critter away, turning her body. “YOU CAN’T HAVE IT!! I DON’T CARE IF GHOSTS AND BUGS ARE BETTER!! I MUST PROTECT THIS CUTIE, FOR THE SAKE OF ALL GHOSTS AND BUG POKEMON!!! I MUST MAKE MY WISHEEEES!!”

“THAT’S JIRACHI??? YOU HAVE IT??!!”

“What’s Jirachi who’s Jirachi is that a new Pokemon?? Well, you better go catch it lemme know how that goes ‘kay bye!” She turned and shot for the edge.

“NOT SO FAST!!” Gary grabbed her by the waist and yanked her back.

The woman screamed and freed herself, facing Gary furiously. “How dare you touch a woman that way!”

“Listen! I need you to cut this out! This is serious! What are you doing with Jirachi?? I came all the way up here for that!”

“You came to catch Jirachi?”

“Kind of, yeah! I need the wishes! I need to save lives!”

“Well, you shoulda arrived sooner. This little baby needs rest. I’ve been with it since yesterday!”

“What do you mean? Didn’t it only just arrive today?”

“Yesterday was the day.”

“No way! I have the notes from Prof. Oak! They said it was today!”

“Well, either he was mistaken, or you misread something. I had this one since yesterday. I was there when it landed. Jirachi is mine, and so are the wishes.” She looked into the bright, cloudy sky dreamily. “I’m finally gonna get my Capture Styler!” Tears started to roll down her cheeks. “Promotion, here I come!” Her face went blank suddenly as she stared outward. “Pro. Mo. Tion. Promotion.”

“WE ARE NOT WASTING WISHES ON THAT!! THERE’S NOT ENOUGH!!” Gary exploded.

“I’m not using them all on that,” she assured Gary. “I also want to make the first ever Bughost type Pokemon!” She closed her eyes, smiling proudly and nodding confidently. Not even a second later, her smile was gone as she looked up above and put one hand to her chin thoughtfully. “Or was it Ghostug?”

“Miss! Would you listen to me for a second?!” Gary begged desperately. “We could save the world here! There’s lost lives! We can’t think about ourselves here! This is crazy!”

Gary.

The woman.

Electivire.

Sabrina.

The Pupitar.

Tyranitar.

All turned as the little white critter in the woman’s arms stirred and raised its head. It raised flappy little arms to the top of the blanket and stared around at everyone with big eyes. Its head held a yellow top with three points, one to the sky, and the other two at opposite ends of each other. On each end was a teal tag. “Ji?” it squeaked adorably.

Gary uttered a shaky, stunned voice, unable to speak, ready to tear up. Melissa... Prof. Oak... Team Solace... Hitmonchan... That damn monster. I can’t let this idiot destroy the world! Even if it’s my needs I’m concerned about, it means a lot more than whatever nonsense this bonehead is worried about!

“Jirachi, I wish for Emmet’s butt right here in front of me right now! Preferably with Emmet attached, please,” the woman spoke with a smile, her eyes closed.

“NNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!” Gary erupted, reaching for Jirachi.

With a loud whoooosh, something flew straight up from below the side of the mountain. It landed easily, gazing at everyone.

Gary screamed for his life.

The Ranger shrieked for her life, running backwards and slamming into the wall.

Sewaddle clung to her hat, screaming with its Trainer.

The Pupitar started shouting out, bouncing backwards.

Tyranitar stared at what had appeared with horror.

Frightened, Sabrina squawked out, flapping her wings frantically, causing feathers to fall.

Electivire was the only one not screaming. In fact, he took a step forward.

Standing taller than them all, her skin as black as night, was the ugly monster, staring right back at Electivire. Her long black hair rested on her back.

When her eyes, the terrible, horrific eyes of her, landed on Gary, he felt like puking. Instead, he swallowed, but this made him feel even more sick, his throat burning from vomit. No, Gary. No, he told himself. Don’t! He swallowed again. But he couldn’t get over how ugly this thing was, and especially those eyes!

A science experiment gone wrong. The result of torture and mutilation was all it could be! The huge eyes were all black, aside from the very ends around them that were purple. They didn’t fit properly in the head, the circular eyes with rectangular holes leaving room to see between them, only the top and bottom of the eyeballs connecting with the actual skin of the face. There were no eyebrows, only adding to how alien the being appeared. Below that was not a real nose, but a nose-shaped hole, expanding and shrinking just slightly. Thick cheekbones stuck out far, and below that was her mouth, formed from two thick, protruding lips. More than that, her lips seemed to be pulled back. Any further and her teeth would have been showing. Her head tilted back and forth on her wavering neck that was like a curvy snake’s body, long and scaly, with a red diamond design on each side. She flexed the long, thin fingers on her hands into fists and then released them, the act repeating. Her nails were long, cracked, jagged, and looked like a swipe would rip flesh apart. The thing’s slender arms that held the hands had a fair amount of hair all over them. Even less hair ran down the beast’s chest and stomach. Her breasts were large and shaped like a diamond. The nipples on them were darker than her actual skin, each one the shape of half a diamond, the opposite half of the other, and flat on the breast, like an areola or patch on the skin more than actual nipple. There were red diamond patterns all along the front of her body, as well as two large ones on each leg, barely visible underneath the heaviest amount of hair on her. Between her legs was something Gary didn’t notice before, and it caught him by surprise for a moment. Between her legs was a red outline of a diamond surrounding a thick little bush of hair.

Gary’s mouth hung open continuously as he eyed this spot. The monster roared, and Gary jumped, looking back up at her hideous face.

“Give me Jirachi, filthy human contaminant!” Her voice was like the crackling of lightning mixed with an explosive, swirling fire. She spoke with multiple voices that came out in various levels and tones, and the strange sounds made Gary shudder. The monster kept her eyes on the Ranger.

The Ranger screamed and turned her back on the creature. “GO AWAY FROM US!! PLEEEEEASE!!! THIS IS WHY I NEED A CAPTURE STYLERRRRRR!!!!”

The monster advanced on the woman swiftly.

Electivire moved at once, before Gary even came up with a thought, and grabbed the thing by the throat!

“ELECTIVIRE NO!! DON’T DO IT!!” Gary, not sure of exactly what he was thinking he was about to do, ran up to them! “ELECTIVIRE!!”

One hand of the wild species rose up and grabbed Electivire by the face, the other hand grabbing Gary’s face! Both hands squeezed.

Grunting, Gary grasped the hand, feeling himself getting weaker by the second. He didn’t even have time to process how it felt being touched by her, or even touching her himself, as his body quickly went limp. His mind was getting weak, and he couldn’t utter a single sound. He would have collapsed if the creature wasn’t holding him. But that meant he was hanging by nothing but the skin of his face. Nails dug into the edges of his head. His skin could have come off and he wouldn’t have even noticed or been able to react with the way he felt right now.

With barely a grunt, the monster flung her arm, tossing Gary!

He wasn’t even able to scream as he soared and hit the ground, sliding on his right side, scraping his injured hand! He groaned out, but that was all he could muster despite the mental acknowledgement of physical agony he was in. As he slid, he watched.

The monster released Electivire and he too collapsed! She then stepped over Electivire and to the Ranger.

The Ranger shrieked.

Jirachi appeared, floating up from the Ranger’s blanket!

The creature actually stopped, looking up as the Pokemon hovered over them all. Incredibly, the monster smiled! At this exact same time, her skin turned entirely white! The red diamond patterns on her went a startlingly deeper, darker red. The hair on her head stayed black, but the hair all over her body went a white-blonde instead. Her creepy smile revealed her teeth, some of which were rather small, others larger, but all of them a mess. Yellow, blackened, cracked, even broken, were how most of them came off, only a few looking intact. “Jirachi. Hello. It is an honor.” Her voice was so different now. It still sounded as if a hundred people were speaking at once, but the tones were lighter and pleasant with the change in her body color.

“Ji?” Jirachi stared at the creature.

“Jirachi get back here!!” the Ranger pleaded.

“I’ve been looking for you, Jirachi. For so long. It’s time.” The monster held out her hands. “P-please. Just come to me, and everything will be okay in the world.”

Jirachi had a sad look on its face. It turned back to the Ranger. “Jira?”

“Jirachi, don’t do it!! That thing is bad news! Please come back! Stay away from that thing!!”

The skin on the beast went black sharply, the red diamond patterns going a little more dull, and all the hair returning to black. She walked over to the Ranger.

Tyranitar stomped in front of her and roared intimidatingly.

The monster stared up at the Pokemon, but she wasn’t much shorter than it. She snarled back at it, revealing her huge pink tongue that swirled around in her mouth like a grotesque slug, and she swiftly kicked at Tyranitar’s middle! Her foot had a normal appearance, aside from the hooked toenails that resembled talons.

Tyranitar fell back and then stomped each foot, rocking the mountain. It roared at the monster again.

The creature monster’s eyes went all purple!

Gary would have gasped if he could have, but his energy was all sapped by whatever the monster had done to him after touching him!

“ELECTIVIRE!!!” Electivire lunged at the monster in front of him and swung with Thunder Punch.

The strange creature caught Electivire’s fist, her body lighting up from the attack, but she didn’t seem to react to it! Her entire eyes flashed with the color purple, and a purple squirt came out of each eye, hitting Electivire in his own eyes! She then released Electivire’s hand.

Electivire backed up, clawing at his own face and whining in pain! His own eyes were now both all purple!!

“Aaaaaaahhhh!” It was the only warning he was able to rasp out as he remembered what was about to happen!

Tyranitar turned to him and then, a turquoise force field surrounded it!

A squirt of purple came out of the monster’s eyes and hit the force field around Tyranitar!

Gary got out a relieved sigh. But his eyes then widened and his breath stopped.

The purple splashes from the monster. They were burning through Tyranitar’s Protect!

Tyranitar yelled out in disbelief before the liquids finally hit it in its own eyes! Its eyes then went entirely purple! It covered its face and stumbled about, crying out helplessly, and then fell to its knees!

“TYRANITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRR!!!” the Ranger wailed desperately.

Tyranitar! Gary thought, strength finally returning to him slowly.

The monster turned and walked over to Jirachi.

Electivire was struggling to get back up, on his hands and knees now.

The monster got closer to both the Ranger and Jirachi. Closer to Jirachi than the Ranger, she kept moving forth! She was directly underneath Jirachi, but kept on moving, aiming right for the Ranger!

“Hey... Hey! HEEEEEEEYYYY!!” The Ranger choked out, strangling as the monster wrapped one hand around her throat.

The monster’s long nails were digging into the Ranger’s throat, forcing out blood!!

Sewaddle was literally in tears, clinging to the back of the woman’s ushanka, terrified and trembling nonstop.

“JIRAAAA!!” Jirachi yelled out in a squeaky, shrill voice, reaching out for the woman.

The Ranger reached up, grabbed her Sewaddle, and she lightly tossed it away from her.

Sewaddle tumbled on the rocky ground and looked up sadly at the Ranger. It cried out sadly.

Tears running down her own cheeks, the woman gave a pained, weak smile to her Pokemon. She let out a creaky sound from her bleeding throat.

The monster’s tongue swirled around her big mouth while shouting at the woman she held, and more blood squirted out nastily!

Sewaddle screamed out but didn’t move, petrified.

Jirachi was also screaming, but it didn’t move from where it was hovering.

The woman croaked out weakly, turning to her attacker, unable to fight except for grasping the being’s fingers and trying to free herself.

The monster’s fingers weren’t budged in the slightest, and she turned, walking to the edge of the cliff.

Gary slowly fought against his weakness preventing him from getting one of his Pokemon.

Electivire had his hands on his knees, watching as the monster casually strolled by him.

Surprisingly, the being stopped next to Gary!

Gary rolled onto his back and looked up at the... the... Animal! Gary told himself. No. Even Gary knew she was much more than that. But there was nothing he could do about it, either way.

She pulled back her arm that held the woman in it, and before Gary could process what had happened, even after she had done it, the monster flung the Ranger right off the edge of the mountain!!

She screamed as she flew off the mountain, helplessly wailing her last breath.

Jirachi was screaming louder than ever, but still remained where it floated.

NOOOO!! Gary was actually able to sit up now. He hunched over, his energy still drained. I can’t... he told himself. He looked over to where Sewaddle had been, but it was now gone! His eyes widened and he looked around, but the Pokemon was out of sight! Oh, no! Where did it go? His eyes went to the weak and writhing Tyranitar on its back. Tyranitar!! he called out silently. He grabbed three Poke Balls, pressing the button on each one to enlarge them, and then hurled one at Tyranitar! He then extended the remaining balls out for Electivire and Sabrina, recalling them back.

In the next instant, he was choking when the monster took him by surprise and grabbed him by his throat and hoisted him high up, over the edge of the mountain! He looked at the sickening eyes of the monster.

She stared right back and then cocked her arm back.

Gary was able to see Jirachi for a moment. Their eyes met... Jirachi! he thought frantically. He croaked out weakly, trying to bring out his wish vocally. His vision was blurred.

The monster flung Gary off the mountain!!

Gary screamed as loud as he could, pulling energy from wherever possible!

The Poke Ball he flung hit Tyranitar, who was still clawing at its own face, screaming and squirming on its back!

Before he could see any more, he was falling down the side of the mountain, wailing and flailing. He grabbed at the cliff with both hands, but only his right hand grasped at an edge, stopping his fall. He screamed out, his injured hand releasing his last chance at life, and he fell far, his arms flapping pointlessly.

He saw a big, pointed edge of the mountain beneath him, a huge piece of rock, and realized he was gonna slam right into it.

It was too late.

His head slammed into it.

He blacked out, his head leaking blood.

And he continued down the mountain.

*

Something was seen.

Blackness returned.

The sight resumed.

The vision was gone.

There’s something, Gary realized. Out there. Something. He blinked consciously, desperate to see what was around him. People, he started to understand. Humans. I see people. In a building.

These people wavered in and out of clarity. Going from individuals to multiples of themselves, and back to individuals again. Back and forth, over and over again.

After blinking for a while, his view became clear and he could comprehend what he was seeing.

There were men and women in gray outfits. The clothing was strange, like jumpsuits covering their entire bodies, including helmets with head coverings, a plastic front obscuring their faces. They also all held some kind of gun... pointed right at Gary!

Gary started to clear up his mind real quick, realizing the threat he was surrounded by.

“There’s two things I hate: uninvited guests,” someone started, speaking gruffly.

Gary turned abruptly, staring in disbelief at who was talking. He was just stunned in general, just at a voice at all, regardless who it was. But witnessing who was there added a whole new layer of surprise, fright, but overall, rage to the young boy.

He wasn’t in a building at all, Gary started to understand, seeing the sky and clouds flying by through the windows. But instead, a flying vehicle that sounded like a helicopter.

The floor and walls were painted black, only the ceiling in white. There were several folding chairs that looked like they’d been tossed about, and what must have been a table was in two pieces, broken.

Gary returned to the person who had spoken, trying to regain strength back to himself. He felt really tired, but nothing more. Tired, and even more so, confused.

Sitting in a black chair at the front of the vehicle, in front of a large window taking up the top half of the front, his back to everyone, sat a man with long black hair.

But there was no mistaking it.

Gary had heard the voice, and seeing what little he could see of the guy proved who he was.

“, and those suffering convenient amnesia when I demand answers!” The man turned in his rotating chair and faced Gary with a solid face.

In his all-black suit, clutching a small object in his right hand.

The black object outlined in a light-blue glow.

The leader of Team Solace, Isaac, smiled wickedly. “So you’d better start talking, Gary...”