Swanna Song, Sung Throughout Sinnoh

Day Five:

“Is that a cockatiel?”

Gary stared at the man blankly, his mind somewhere else entirely. After blinking a few times, he muttered, “No.”

“Why not?” the Hispanic male questioned, smiling the entire time.

This seemed to snap Gary back to reality, and he stared at the guy in confusion. “Huh?”

*

“If you hadn’t have fed it peanut butter, it never woulda gotten sick!!” the woman barked at her husband.

“The kids fed the damn thing!! NOT ME!!” the man argued back.

“WHY WEREN’T YOU WATCHING THE DAMN CHILDREN??!” the woman fought back.

“Listen, guys. Please, stop this. You’re holding up the line, and I’ve already explained the situation to you both,” Adonis said, holding up his powerful arms and gigantic hands.

Staring at Adonis, Gary couldn’t help but feel completely overwhelmed and useless, as a human being in general, in front of this prime example of man, named Adonis.

Even just Adonis’ lips that he spoke from were prime to allure anyone attracted to the very idea of a man. They were thick and sturdy, but not too protruding, either.

Gary couldn’t help but note down in his mind every last thing about Adonis that made him feel like a complete, incomplete loser who would never live up to what Adonis physically portrayed, and would be inferior, single, and die crying in a lonely bed.

“Togekiss isn’t sick from the food it ate. They get very unwell around negative energy, as you two are displaying right now, ha ha,” Adonis tried to get through.

The couple kept arguing, their three kids watching with sadness, Togekiss on the counter looking exhausted and unwell.

*

“Can I mix that Basculin with my Corphish? My tank is a hundred gallons,” a customer asked.

“No, it’s not recommended or safe,” Gary answered lazily, having heard this question in several variations by the same person, for the past thirty minutes.

“Okay. If I put a divider in the tank, will that work?” the man continued.

“No. Pokemon are very powerful. While we sell dividers, for things like this, it is not suggested,” Gary droned on, not caring how tired and careless his tone of voice was.

“Alright, I see. Do you think over time, they’ll get along?”

“There’s no guarantee of it, and it isn’t recommended, sir.”

“What if I put Basculin in a separate tank? I have a ten gallon. I could leave it there next to the tank with Corphish until they get along, right?”

“Sir, I do not recommend that. That may stress out and kill them. Or at least one of them.”

“If I let them fight it out and separate them day by day, maybe they’ll get used to each other.”

Gary didn’t respond at all now, just staring at the man tiredly.

*

“Gary can you take care of him, please?” Stephanie pointed at an extremely tall and sturdy White guy with blonde hair staring at fish with two kids in front of him. “We call him Neo.” She added in a whisper, “He’s a really good tipper,” and then went to help someone with the rodent Pokemon.

Gary walked up to the guy. “Hello, sir. Can I help you with anything?” Gary gave his best smile.

“Well, I’m not sure yet. Kids, you see anything?”

Two blonde children, one a boy, the other a girl, looked back at the man. The boy pointed, the girl staying quiet.

They all stared at the gigantic Relicanth tank.

It was second in size only to the Tentacool tank. The Pokemon swam alone, looking just fine, but ugly. At least to Gary.

“You sure this is the one you want?” the man asked the children.

The kids both nodded, pleading looks in their eyes.

“Bag that one up, then!” the man insisted.

Gary’s eyes bulged. “No problem, sir, but, just so there’s no confusion, the price of that fish Pokemon is going to come out to over a hundred thousand, especially after taxes...” Gary was sure the man didn’t know any of this and would encourage the children to choose something far, far cheaper.

“That’s fine. Bag that one up,” the man told Gary, looking right into his eyes.

Gary couldn’t believe his ears!

*

“Thing is, kid, Republicans are assholes,” spoke a young man with a buzz cut hairstyle and a man bun. “And Democrats are a bunch of pussies. Both parties mean nothing, really. It’s just a bunch of loud voices, and the actual numbers don’t mean a thing. Conservatives will give you the chair for stealing a candy bar when you were five if you’re Black, and Democrats want ‘justice’ to everyone including rapists and confessed murderers who had turned to ‘God’ all of a sudden. You’re too young to be worried about this stuff, though.”

Gary just stared back at the man, not having expected any of this conversation. He was simply ringing the guy at the cash register and asked what pet he had at home, since he was buying some kind of cream to rub on a Pokemon to relieve mental stress commonly found in Psychic types.

The guy had responded that he had a Slowpoke, and this led to talk about Senator Slowking, and things went wild from there.

*

Sierra burst into the back room in tears, Gary behind her cradling a Minccino in his arms that was struggling to breath, his eyes almost closed. She came back from the fridge with a bottle of red liquid and immediately grabbed a drinking bottle used for animal cages and poured a little into the bottle, filling the rest with water at the slop sink before running back over and putting the metal spout to Minccino’s mouth.

Some of the liquid got on Minncino’s mouth, and he licked at it.

Sierra kept nudging the spout, forcing Mincinno to drink.

“What is that?”

“It’s Feraligatrade. It helps with the electrolytes this one may be lacking. But...” Her voice trembled, tears rolling down her cheeks.

It might be too late, Gary kept to himself.

When starting to clean out the cage just a moment ago, Gary found Minccino breathing sharp, quick breaths and looking ill. After shouting for Sierra, she and Gary rushed Minccino to the back and Sierra did all she knew how to do.

Minccino’s eyes were now closed, and he wasn’t licking at his lips anymore.

“No,” Gary whispered, swallowing. “Here. Come on.” Using his pinky, he nudged the mouth open, and Sierra put the spout in.

Gary tapped at a tiny metal ball that kept the liquid from flowing out of the spout, trying to urge a little more to come out quicker.

Minccino’s snout moved, his eyes opening weakly at Gary, shimmering wetly.

Gary’s eyes were watering at this. “Please, Mincinno. Please! You can do it! You can make it! What happened to you? You were just fine yesterday!”

Minccino kept the liquid in his mouth, not swallowing.

Gary tilted his little body over, the liquid slipping out and into his fur.

Sierra let out a startled sound.

“It’s okay, friend,” Gary whispered to the small creature.

“Is he-?” Sierra had one hand to her face, her other hand still holding the bottle.

Gary shook his head. “No. He’s alive.” Gary carefully closed the Pokemon’s eyes and walked over to an empty cage that had bedding in it. He placed Minccino inside and ruffled up some of the bedding to form a little pillow before making sure Minncino was resting on it comfortably.

“Oh, Gary,” Sierra whimpered. “You’re so gentle.”

Gary stood up and smiled sadly at her. “He deserves a nice rest in his final moments.” Sierra cried out emotionally and clung to Gary, the boy holding her back as tears rolled down his own cheeks.

*

Gary walked down the aisle, trying to find Sierra, or Stephanie. Adonis, even. He stared at the big fish tank with the two Tentacool in it as he was about to walk past it but stopped for a moment.

And suddenly, a tentacle wrapped around his arm and Tentacool screamed, yanking him into the bottom tank!

I didn’t know we had a third one in the bottom tank! Gary panicked and grabbed the top of the lower tank. He looked down to his attacker, struggling to free his arm and not be taken under.

Adonis was there, smiling in a crouched position, having pulled Gary’s arm into the water! “Hey Sugar Lumps.”

“Hoooooor!”

“HEEYY!!!” Gary let out furiously as one of the Horsea that were in the bottom tank put its head out of the water and squirted ink in his face.

This made Adonis bust out laughing. “My nigga I’m so sorry!!” But the guy wouldn’t stop laughing at what he had caused. “Man, that’s fucked up. I’m sorry, bro. I ain’t mean to do that. Don’t worry, Sugar Lumps. I’ll help you clean up. Just keep your eyes closed and I’ll lead the way.”

“I told you not to call me that,” Gary grumbled, being led by the hand by him.

“I hear ya, Sugar,” Adonis continued.

After getting cleaned up, which took a good couple of hours, Gary’s shirt stained permanently, he glared at Adonis. “Do you have a marker so I can make a sale sign?” Gary asked Adonis. “That’s all I wanted this entire time.”

“Oh, yeah. Why didn’t you just ask from the beginning?” Before Gary could snap back, the man pulled out a marker and held it up. “Jiiiiiiggalyyyypuuuuuuff.” He gave Gary the object.

Once the joke sunk in, Gary actually laughed at the reference, forgetting his anger for a moment.

*

“Can I ask you a question Titi?”

Sighing, the old woman told the noisy children beside her to wait, keeping her eyes on Stephanie. “But he help me with free food. He tell me food free,” the old Hispanic woman from Gary’s first day on the job, complained, motioning at Gary.

“No I didn’t, ma’am,” Gary defended himself politely. Oh, what’s the point? She barely knows English. Defending myself won’t do any good. She doesn’t even understand what the situation was, so she’ll just keep complaining. At least, I hope she doesn’t understand and isn’t just trying to get her way...

“Titi I have a questiooooon!” the child urged again impatiently, her friends making noises and complaints.

“Wait, Sky!” the woman said sternly.

“Ma’am, I’m sorry that this was explained improperly to you,” Stephanie started.

Gary shut his eyes and breathed out quietly but angrily. Really??

“But it does say right on the envelope that sale bags don’t count. You got one on sale, so I can’t do it. And I can’t reach the manager so there’s really nothing I can do, okay?” Stephanie’s tone was getting shorter and shorter, more impatient by the moment. But she was trying to keep it together.

The lady sighed and gave a clearly fake smile, nodding. “Okay.”

“Titi can I have this fish? It will die in a month but I wanna see it. Can I buy it and keep it alive?” One girl was shoving a bag with water and a feeder goldfish in it to the old woman.

The woman took the bag and turned to the cashiers. “This only live one month?”

“It’s just a feeder fish, not a real pet. There’s no warranty or anything if it dies as soon as you get home, even. A month would be surprising. It’s just to feed big fish.”

“Ooooooh. Okay.” She put the bag on the table and nodded. “I buy. Why not? If it dies, can fry it. Free fish!” She laughed.

Stephanie and Gary turned to each other with weak, confused smiles.

*

“Uuuuuh, fish frakes,” an Asian lady spoke simply.

“Fish frakes, okay.” Gary turned, his back to the woman, and his eyes widened at the same time. Shit!! He grabbed a container of fish food and set it on the table. “Fish flakes! Here you go!”

After Gary rang her up, the line now gone, the Assistant Manager Adam busted out laughing. “Now thaaaat’s racist, hah hah hah hah hah haaah!”

Gary laughed with him, Adonis also there laughing. “I swear that wasn’t on purpose,” Gary insisted.

Adam’s laugh abruptly got lower and more awkward, his eyes behind his small glasses going from Gary, to Adonis, and back to Gary before he went silent.

The awkward Chinese guy appeared, walking to the front door to leave, giving Adam and Adonis, and lastly Gary, a short, uncomfortable glance with his wide eyes before walking out.

“Does he ever even buy anything?” Gary asked. “He’s so weird.”

“Naaah that guy doesn’t buy anything from us. We don’t sell cats.” Adam laughed lightly and creepily.

Gary chuckled a little at the joke, his eyes shooting around nervously. Brave joke, Gary kept to himself.

“See, I’m racist, too! We’re all racist! Heh heh heh heh heh. Haaaaaaah,” he breathed out. “Nah I’m just joking. I love Asians. That’s why I work in this country. Chinese. Korean. Japanese. I don’t even care or know what the difference is, heh heh heh heh.”

“I gotta use the bathroom,” Gary lied and left to the back room. He could take a joke just fine, but he couldn’t say that about everyone, and he didn’t want to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when the wrong customer might appear and hear Adam and have a problem with what he was saying. Gary was just trying to finish his final few days and be free, and he wasn’t going to risk that by getting in any kind of trouble, especially not over bad jokes. Besides that, Adam was just plain weird. Even his laughing is so... dead, Gary told himself. What a weirdo.

*

Gary stared at the pouring rain from behind the cash register. This is the longest day ever, Gary thought. Maybe I’m just getting too used to the job, or working with this idiot is dragging things.

“At least it’s not bad out,” Adam stated, standing at the front doors. “At least it’s not bad out. Boom! Ha ha. Like, suddenly a flash flood. At least it's not bad out. Plaooosh! Ha ha ha.”

Not laughing back, Gary just stared at Adam tiredly. Is this really worth avoiding jail time? Gary considered, jokingly, but not finding anything about what he was thinking funny.

*

“So the only reason you’re here is because of me? Sort of?” Ish questioned, exploding into laughter.

Mew laughed alongside him, though in a far more reasonable volume. “That is pretty funny.”

Sierra was beside Gary, smiling quietly while looking at him.

“Well, apparently so!” Gary couldn’t believe his ears. His shift was over and he was walking back to the Pokemon Center, about a half-hour distance.

Ish and Mew dropped by the store and, knowing that Gary was leaving, Ish decided to escort him back.

Sierra was more than happy to join, as well, Adonis staying to work a double shift.

After Gary detailed his adventures before arriving in Hearthome, Ish revealed that he had been in the same area almost two weeks ago and found an Egg that he put in a capsule. Then he met the mother, a Tyranitar, who became enraged and in the attack, destroyed the capsule using Earthquake. During the battle and successful capture of Tyranitar, Larvitar hatched and ran away in fright, injuring itself on the glass shards of the capsule, and in the chaos and destroyed route from Tyranitar’s Earthquake, Ish lost the baby, informing police and rangers later. “So you should just give me the Larvitar, since I have the mom,” Ish shrugged, pulling out his phone.

Gary laughed. “Yeah. Sure. Ha ha ha!”

Sierra and Mew also laughed. “Sneaky, Ish,” Mew added.

Ish just shrugged again. “Okay.” He typed away on his phone.

Gary was startled, staring at Ish curiously. Wait, was he serious?

“Yo, my nigga, I know you live under a rock but check this shit out.” Ish handed Gary his phone. “Just press play.”

Gary did, and he then watched a video of a short, dark creature fighting a grown man. The creature was likely some kind of Pokemon, and the tall man with bulging muscles was showing little difficulty against the tiny opponent who was also holding its own, their attacks matching perfectly.

Around them, a crowd was cheering them on.

“Nah! Come on, man!” Gary let out angrily at Ish, holding the phone back out to him. “I can’t watch stuff like this with people beating up Pokemon.”

“It’s not that! Truuust me my nigga, watch,” Ish insisted, pushing the phone back to Gary.

Gary sighed angrily and watched as the little creature matched every movement the man had, blow for blow, as if it had been rehearsed. But after a while, the man’s attacks were not only being matched, but entirely reflected, and some hits were even going through the little Pokemon! Eventually, the guy fell over as the thing continued pummeling him!

The crowd started yelling out and got closer to break it up, but beams of white light came from the Poke Balls on their waists, their Pokemon being released, and the Pokemon grabbed their own Trainers and started beating them to the ground, too!

The video stopped.

Gary turned to Ish with a face full of shock, completely stunned. “What-?”

“That little Pokemon was a Marshadow. It’s a Mythical Pokemon that can hide in your shadow and learn anything about you and mimic your fighting style, only stronger.”

Gary gasped. “I’ve never heard of that!”

“And, it can control any Pokemon to do what it wants them to, so that’s why all the Pokemon came out and fucked up their Trainers. And if you noticed, their eyes were glowing blue. It was an ongoing case throughout Kanto, but some nigga came around. Some kid, too. Probably your age. He actually defeated Marshadow but let it go rather than catching it. Fucking idiot.”

“Why’d he let it go?”

“He’s light skinned. Something against catching Legends and Mythicals because they belong to nature or some shit like that. He saved the day there, but what a bitch.”

Light skinned? Gary thought.

“I definitely woulda captured it and raised it so it could be tamed and not be doing bad things like that.”

“Why was it doing that stuff?”

“The story goes that it was looking to get even stronger and stronger, by any means. Even at the risk of harming others. But who knows who it could have killed? There’s people seriously hospitalized right now over that thing, Pokemon and humans. It’s crazy how some child came from out of nowhere and was able to stop it, rather than an experienced adult.”

“Whoa. So he beat it, and they just let it go?”

Ish nodded. “Not much they can do. Better to hope it doesn’t do it again than to keep a Pokemon that lives in the shadows, in jail, or wherever they’d put it. Don’t wanna make that thing mad. Though, if it does it again, it could really get ugly for it, or those trying to get it. It’s crazy, bro.”

Gary just nodded. “Good thing that kid came through. I wonder how he stopped it. He must be strong.”

“Kids are doing big things, man. Just like the adults. With Pokemon, anything is possible. They even had that one incident with Team Solace. They were out there-”

“Team Solace??” Gary let out.

“-using a Drampa they manipulated to attack a children’s hospital,” Ish continued without stopping. “It had to be put down, but not before a lot of staff was killed, and even a child in the mayhem, which only got Drampa madder, and it went crazy in there. This why it’s hard to support them. They started the attack, but they make an example of the threats of Pokemon.”

Everyone went quiet, staring at the ground. Even Ish.

So Ish still feels that way, Gary understood. Despite the good works he does, and how much he cares for Pokemon, he can still find Pokemon a threat, and justify Team Solace’s actions. To a degree. He snuck a glance over at Mew.

She was rubbing her arm, not looking up, awkwardness on her face.

“But what I’m most worried about is that monster thing that’s ruining the Sinnoh League,” Ish added.

“Ruining the Sinnoh League? What do you mean?” Gary asked him.

Ish looked at Gary with a stern face, as if the kid had asked something incredibly stupid. “My nigga, first off, you need to start picking up a newspaper or something. That monster Pokemon thing is going to stop the League challenge soon if it’s not stopped!”

“What is sh- it doing?” Gary asked.

“Gyms are being destroyed out here by her, and Gym Leaders are starting to quit! It’s getting really bad.”

This rang a bell in Gary’s head. Did OrangeIChamp tell me about this? Is it really still happening? “Isn’t anyone doing something about it?”

“They can’t. She’s too powerful.”

Gary clenched his teeth tight. It’s bad enough that Pokemon, humans, guns, or anything else do little to stop this thing, and now she’s ruining my chances of getting Badges?

“Tomorrow is Christmas. It’s a half-day. We still hangin’ after work for the Poke Tour Meteor Shower?”

“Yes, please!” Mew agreed first.

“I don’t mind,” Sierra smiled slightly, and then looked back down.

“The Poke Tour Meteor Shower... I heard of that. We’ll be able to see it?” Gary asked.

“Yeah, man, and you and Sea can finally have a date finally.”

Both Sierra and Gary exploded in unintelligible shock, horror, and just raw noise.

“Come on, don’t pull all that,” Ish said as Mew laughed. “Everyone knows how you both feel. Why do you think Marcy called you in for some extra mornings?”

Sierra’s face was a fiery red, burning with embarrassment and rage. “That’s why I was called in today?!!”

Ish now exploded with laughter.

“You both do make a cute couple,” Mew said to them gently.

Sierra and Gary couldn’t help but smile, but at the same time, they held out their hands against Mew and Ish, shaking their heads in denial.

*

Things became immensely awkward for the rest of that day as Sierra and Gary were both officially a couple since the title was forced upon them, although the two were far from unhappy about it. No matter what a customer wanted, or what job had to be fulfilled, the two couldn’t stop giggling and blushing if they had to pass each other.

“Do you sell dog Pokemon flea medicine?” a lady had asked, coincidentally catching Gary and Sierra at the same time.

“Yes!” Sierra and Gary spoke in unison. They then stared shyly at each other and looked away, smirking.

“Uuuuuugh,” Tiny groaned, walking away from the register.

“Oh, get a damn room, you two,” Ish complained, and stomped behind the register, grabbing up something. “No, really. Go away. Go make out in the back or something.”

“ISH!” Sierra shouted in shock.

“We carry ZoGarde here,” Ish told the waiting customer, holding up the product.

Gary and Sierra left from behind the register, embarrassed. They started pretending to check the aisle and the products in them for dust and expiration.

*

“How much will you give me for this Kabuto and Carvanha?”

“You’ll have to speak to the manager, but he’s off today,” Gary told the short guy, his wide eyes on the angry-looking Pokemon who was swiping at them with its claws, and the other one that was snapping at them with sharp jaws, both of them sitting in a big cardboard box.

“Listen, man. I need a break. I’m not cut out for this life. Just take it, okay? It’s a Fossil and a crazy Pokemon. They’re free. If you won’t buy ‘em, just take it. I can’t handle this shit anymore!” And with that said, the man walked away!

“Wait! Wait!!” Gary moved after the man, but he ran, leaving the store. Gary left a moment after him and looked around, but the fat guy was nowhere in sight. He did see a car driving off loudly, but he couldn’t tell who was inside. With a sigh, he went back inside to hear screaming. Gary ran and soon after stopped beside Adam, seeing a woman cornered by a Kabuto that was swiping at her.

“HELP MEEEEEEEEE!!!” the large woman begged of the guys.

*

“Have a wonderful day!” Gary gushed after the very tall woman he knew he never stood a chance of being with.

She left the store, the woman of Gary’s hidden desires.

“Really? Her?” Ish questioned. “I can’t stand tall chicks. That’s like kissing a nigga to me.”

“I love taller girls,” Gary swooned. “I liked her since I first saw her, I think my second day.”

“Gaaaarryyyy,” Tiny started. “You have Sea, now,” she then whispered.

“I know!” Gary burst out. Sea. The sea. Gary started trying to remember something. What is it? He inhaled deeply as he was hit with the memory of falling into the sea after crazily leaping out of Team Solace’s helicopter to attack the monster that was flying by. No... That’s not it, Gary knew, on to something now. It’s... But Gary didn’t have time to dwell on this further. “Huh?” He froze, his eyes widening. After first swallowing, he smiled. “Sierra!”

“HMPH!” The furious-looking girl had her arms crossed and turned, storming to the back of the store.

“Toooold yaaa!” Tiny smirked at him with expectant eyes.

“Sierra, wait! You don’t understand! I wasn’t even-!” He just stopped talking and ran after her. “Hey! Come on! I’m sorry, Sierra! You know I wouldn’t-!” He caught up to her and grabbed her shoulder gently.

“It’s because I’m ugly! You shouldn’t have agreed to be with me then!” Sierra cried. She broke free of his grasp and ran into the back room.

Gary ignored the customers in the store and went after her. “Sierra! Please! Don’t say such stupid things about yourself! I love-!” With a sharp, sudden intake of breath, he stopped talking. Gary, don’t do that! he warned himself. But- “Sierra, you’re beautiful!”

Sierra was sitting on a huge bag of bedding, rubbing her arms as tears streamed down her cheeks. “I’m fat, ugly, and I know it. You don’t have to be nice to me just because you feel bad for me. I feel bad enough for myself.”

Gary knelt down beside her. “Sierra.” He stopped talking, noticing her rubbing her arms, sniffling, crying, and trembling. Gary put his arms around her shoulders and held her close. Whoa, Gary. Easy. You don’t have a real clue of what you’re doing. Don’t try being too cool or something like on the TV shows and movies. But- Gary inhaled strongly and made a risky decision. “Sierra, I don’t want to scare you away - but I think I love you to be honest.” He couldn’t breathe or swallow, his heart punching at his chest aggressively.

Sierra gasped and closed her eyes, gripping her arms.

No going back now, Gary, he knew. “I’m sorry about how that looked earlier but I love you. You.” His hands slipped lower around her arms to pull her in closer.

Sierra gasped and resisted him, realizing what Gary was doing.

Gary let her pull away from him, but he kept his eyes on her delicate face. “Where are these from, Sierra?”

Sierra swallowed, digging her fingers hard into the scars on her arms. “It’s... Sometimes, I punish myself for stuff. If I upset Momma, or if I just feel like I did something stupid, I take-”

Gary grabbed her shoulders, making Sierra jump and pull back, but after taking in some air for courage, he leaned forward and kissed her forehead and then rested his forehead where he kissed her.

Sierra had gasped again.

“Promise me you won’t do it ever again from now on,” he told her gently. “And if you do, at least tell me. We can talk through it, but you can’t do that to yourself. Not anymore. Do you trust me?”

They pulled back from each other and looked lovingly into each other’s eyes, the boy still holding the young girl.

“Like no one else I’ve ever known,” Sierra admitted as slow tears came out of her eyes before she looked away.

“Please look at me, Sierra,” Gary insisted.

“Wh-wh-why?” Sierra stuttered.

“Because your eyes are so beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like them.” Gary’s chest must have been made of steel considering his heart wasn’t out of his chest with how hard it was attacking it. He wanted to do something real suave and manly, like grab her chin and softly make her stare at him, but there was no way he’d ever do that. Way too far, Gary! he warned himself. “They’re more beautiful every time I see them. Perpetually.”

This made Sierra look up at him, her mouth agape.

Yes! You’re doing great, Gary! Even he was impressed with himself. Keep going, man! “I love you, Sierra,” he managed out.

“I love you, too.” Her head fell into his chest, crying hard, her hands to her chest, and Gary just held onto her back.

*

“I HATE YOU!!”

Gary smiled with embarrassment.

“And I’m also so sorry for hitting on you!” Rael bowed in front of Sierra. “I had no idea.”

“And that’s exactly why it’s not a big deal,” Gary insisted with an awkward smile. “Really.”

“You just get everything, don’t you!” Rael frowned at him. “Badges, Pokemon, and now a hot girlfriend?! I don’t need anything from here! I’m leaving!” At that, he left his Pokemon food supplies and other items on the register and went for the door. “It costs more here, anyway!!” he added. And with that, he was out of the building.

Gary and Sierra stared at each other with shocked smiles.

*

“So this is your girl, Gary??” Robin asked Gary.

Gary rubbed the back of his head, but he couldn’t find the words to speak.

“You dog,” Robin nudged Gary in the ribs before turning to Sierra behind the register. “This is my man right here. True blue!” He nudged his thumb at Gary. “Quality! And class!” After paying for his stuff, he winked at Gary and leaned towards him. “You’re in!” he whispered so loudly, only an idiot would have missed it! He then laughed the entire way out of the store.

Sierra had a raised eyebrow at Gary, smirking.

“Uuuuuh, I don’t know that guy...?” Gary joked.

*

“I need five live mices,” a customer asked casually.

“Right. Five mice...” Gary said clearly, rolling his eyes in front of him before going to the back room, hoping he would embarrass this guy for his choice of words.

*

Later that night, back in his room at the Pokemon Center, despite his wrists hurting him, Gary was working out. He was dwelling back on his thoughts he had at the store about the word “sea.” He had been on to something before the interruption with Sierra, and he was now trying desperately to bring that train of thought back. But it wasn’t working. After standing up from his push-ups and rotating his arms, he jogged around his small room, lifting his knees high, breathing hard.

“Be careful with...” Cas had her head turned and eyes closed. “Sea.”

Gary stopped and tripped, falling to his hands and knees. “Wait a minute... Sea...”

Gary had inhaled as deeply as he could before, “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!”

Several shouts and cries and gasps came out from the inside of Team Solace’s helicopter as Gary leaped out of it with a tremendous, enraged, roar!!

Screaming the entire time, Gary reached her and grabbed her by the face, digging his nails in! Her skin is so clumsy, like filthy dirt! he thought. He pulled back a fist and slugged her in the face. He punched her again. And Again. Pulled back and forced his fist into her face as hard as he could!

The creature didn’t respond much at all to any of this and wrapped one claw around his neck.

His breath was taken away immediately. Ffffuck... Gary grunted. Shit! No!

SSSSPPPPPPPLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

The sea... Gary thought, breathing hard. Cas said she was psychic... She knows things. Cas was warning me about my encounter with that monster, in a helicopter, over the sea?! Gary sat in silence, catching his breath. Then, he narrowed his eyebrows. Well, a lot of good that did! That didn’t help me at all! I could have died! What kind of a warning was that?

But... why did I jump to begin with? Is there more to this? Something else she was trying to-? He inhaled big and stood up. Keeping a determined face, he decided not to think on it anymore, getting more impatient and angry, and he clasped his hands in front of him and began doing squats.

*

Day Six:

“Maybe your dreams are somehow really telling you where June is,” Ish offered.

“I don’t really believe in that kind of stuff,” Gary mumbled.

“I do.”

You believe in a lot, Gary kept to himself.

“I think maybe it’s a sign, from God, to direct you. You said they were somewhere underground, right? Like a cave? I’m thinking that if the monster really is in the Sinnoh Underground as they’re theorizing, that’s probably what you’ve been seeing, and she’s torturing her there. Maybe she’s even experimenting on her.”

Gary looked up at him. Like an alien, he thought. Because she’s... Because she really is one!

“Look on the bright side: if you’re really getting messages from God about June, that means she’s still alive, right? You haven’t seen her die, right?”

“I’ve seen... a lot, Ish...” Gary said lowly, looking down at the floor.

“Well, the bad news is, the Underground has been closed and plans to demolish it are being set up. It’s gonna be blown up and covered and there won’t be anything living in there.”

“Those have been the talks for a while. They’re finally-?” Gary stopped talking, his eyes still on Ish.

Together, they both turned.

The odd Chinese man was there, walking by the aisle. He stopped, seeing them, and then looked away, heading to the front of the store to leave, his eyes as wide and weird as ever.

“That guy again. He-” Gary turned, feeling a stare at the back of his neck.

A man stood a distance from Gary with his head already lowered.

Gary had the feeling this guy hadn’t been in that position the entire time. He lowered his head before I turned, he thought.

The man wore a brown fedora and a matching suit with a light-gray tie. Around his suit was a brown trench coat. His black hair went down to his neck. Most of his face was hidden behind the tilted fedora.

“Do you need any help, sir?” Gary called to him suspiciously.

The man smiled and shook his head softly. “Oh, no. Not today. Thank you, kind boy.” He spoke in a gentle, but strong voice. Not deep, far from delicate, fully confident. He walked past the two and left the store.

“Another weirdo?” Gary asked.

“Probably a thief. He probably had something or was going to take something,” Ish replied.

*

Walking through the open field, Gary and Sierra were holding hands. She had asked if she had been hurting him several times, but Gary insisted his wrists were just fine by now, even though they weren’t. They were getting better, though. Either way, he wouldn’t have passed up this chance to be holding his girlfriend’s hand if it meant saving the entire world!

Ish and Mew were doing the same, Sudowoodo close to Mew, and Elekid strolling behind them listening to music through his Unown headphones, holding Ish’s Pineapple phone.

Adonis was with a very short White girl, and Tiny had her five-year-old named Tyler, Gastly also floating by them.

Around them all were a number of people sitting in the grass, but it wasn’t crowded. Above everyone, meteors were occasionally flying about through the night sky like a bunch of little miracles.

Sierra’s hand tightened around Gary’s. “This only happens once every two hundred years,” Sierra said just above a whisper. “We’re so lucky.” The two faced each other, Sierra’s eyes watering. “And to think, it happened on Christmas this year, and when we met.”

“It is beautiful,” Gary spoke back carefully.

“Perpetually so.” Sierra’s eyes twinkled.

Gary felt like he was staring into a bright, beautiful light coming from her eyes, and he felt inspired by them. Don’t do it, Gary. Don’t! he begged in his spinning, heated head. “I think the only gift I could have ever asked for was to have found you, Sierra.”

Sierra’s eyes twinkled with delight at his words, and she blinked out a pair of tears. “Oh,” she sniffled, and wiped at her eyes and cheeks.

There was a lurching sound, and Gary and Sierra turned to see Adonis pretending to puke.

“That was lame as fuck, nigga,” Ish added, dissapointment in his voice while shaking his head.

Mew giggled, the girl with Adonis rolling her eyes with a small smile.

“Fuck you,” Gary frowned playfully.

This made Tiny laugh and point at Gary. “We finally got him to cuuuurse!”

Everyone was laughing now.

“That happens to be one of my favorite attacks,” Gastly chimed in.

It took a while for everyone to get it, but slowly, person by person, the laughter filled the area.

“Oh, Gastly,” Tiny rolled her eyes.

“That was good,” Ish said.

Finally near the top of a hill, everyone sat down, staring up at the sky.

Gary’s head kept spinning.

“Yo, Gary got the tip from Neo, right? So we eatin’ on his dollar, right?” Ish called out.

“Ooooooh! Gary got the Neo tip? What fish did he buy?” Adonis asked.

“RELICANTH!” Ish let out.

“NO WAY!! Naaaah, nigga you gotta hook it up with a burger and fries at least. Come on, spread the wealth.”

“Oh, come on,” Gary smiled a little. He really didn’t want to give up the big tip Neo gave him, but he didn’t wanna seem cheap. I guess this is how it works here, Gary settled. “Oh, fine,” he gave in amongst the protest from everyone but Sierra, who was laughing in the middle of everything. He rolled his eyes with a slanted mouth. “Whoa...” His head kept spinning, surrounded in a very warm cloud, and he wavered in place.

“You good, son?” Ish said to him.

Gary fell, landing sitting on his knees. “I dunno...” Gary moaned.

“That drink you gave him fucked him up, ha ha ha!” Adonis laughed.

“Gary! Are you okay?” Sierra knelt down and held his hand. “What did you guys do?? This is why I don’t drink! Now he’s drunk! Getting him back to the Pokemon Center late will be bad enough at this hour, but drunk?! Damn it!”

“Hey will you just shut up?!!” Gary barked at her, snatching his hand away. “I’m FIIIINE!!”

This got everyone quiet.

Even other people who were in the area watching the show in the sky seemed to get more silent and turn to the group.

“Oooookay, time for some water. Let’s head out and sober up Gary.” Adonis stood.

“No! I’m fine!!” Gary insisted, embarrassed now. He turned to Sierra. “Just calm down! It’s all fine! Don’t get so worked up!!” he said to her loudly, not quite shouting, but far louder than was needed.

Tears formed in Sierra’s eyes. She uttered a strange breath. “I just... I hate being around drunk people. Don’t drink again, ever. Okay? Bad things always happen when people start drinking. It’s why...” She looked down and rubbed her arms, and Gary immediately knew what she was doing.

He stared at her self-inflicted wounds and then glared at his girlfriend. “Sierra, you can’t make me promise that! You chose to do that to yourself! And you promised to never do it again!” Gary’s temper was flaring, and a small voice in the far, far regions of his mind didn’t know why and was begging him to calm down. But he believed his attitude was justified. “You can’t hold your stupid choices against me for what I choose to do with my life!”

With pained disbelief on her face, tears rapidly slid down Sierra’s cheeks.

“Are you stupid or something?!” Gary ranted on.

“Gary! Stop!” Adonis approached Gary.

“You’re gonna really try to manipulate me?” Gary snapped at Sierra. “Do you know who I am?! Who you are?? You promised me! You don’t get to change the rule-!” Gary’s mouth was clapped over by a huge hand.

“I said stop it right now, Gary!” Adonis demanded, speaking right into Gary’s ear.

Gary struggled with all of his might. Now, he was pissed. He believed he was in the right. He knew he was! And he had a point to make. He was convinced everyone was just making things worse by assuming he was only behaving this way because he was drunk! “I’m not drunk!! I’m not overreacting!! JUST LET ME SPEAK!! GIVE ME A CHANCE!!” His words were muffled by Adonis’ giant hand and he was held still, no match for Adonis.

“Stop it!! Are you fucking kidding me, Gary?? Don’t move! Just stop!!”

Ish was running up to Gary, Mew staying behind with Sudowoodo and Elekid.

Elekid had removed his headphones, paying attention to what was going on now.

Tiny was focusing on her child, distracting him from the situation and walking down the hill, away from the drama.

Gastly stayed behind to watch, disbelief on his face for Gary.

Sierra got to her feet, tears streaming nonstop down her face. Shaking her head, she stumbled away backwards. “We’re done, Gary!” she cried. “I never want to see you again!”

Gary let out a pained gasp as his heart exploded on the spot.

Sierra looked to Adonis and then Ish. “Normally, I’d give better notice, but I can’t come in tomorrow. In fact, I’m sorry, but I quit!” Just as easily as she said those words, she turned and took off, sobbing heavily.

“SIERRAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!” Gary raged in desperation, giving his all just to free his mouth.

“No, Gary. You caused this,” Adonis told him, keeping his hold. “You aren’t going to be able to fix it like this. You fucked up.”

“WHOA!” Gary was actually released, and he fell to his face painfully.

“You caused that drastic reaction out of her. How dare you ridicule her for her scars like that. She trusted you.”

Gary was still on the ground. He didn’t want to look back at Adonis. The guy’s voice was scary enough. He didn’t need to see the matching rage on his face. Regret was filling his drunken mind and taking over his body, replacing his previous rage, and his eyes were filling with tears.

“There was no excuse to say that about her. Why would you say something so disgusting, knowing she’s attempted suicide?!”

Gary finally looked back at Adonis and Ish, tears rolling out of his eyes.

“Damn, nigga,” was all Ish would say, unable to even look his friend in the face. He walked away towards Mew.

“I must say, this is quite unbecoming of you, Gary,” Gastly was heard, looking down at the boy before looking away.

Not wanting to see how the girls were looking at him, Gary closed his eyes. After a moment, he got to his feet and then took off after Sierra. “SIERRAAAAAAAAAA!! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIT!!!” He tore through the grass, past several people, a few of them even cheering and shouting out to him. But Gary knew that she was gone, not a sign of her either visually or audibly. He ended up slowing down, but not before his shoulder crashed into a tree painfully. He cried out, and just plain giving up on life, collapsed and stayed down in a heap.

What the fuck have I done?? Sierra...

Sierraaaaa!!

Gary slowly felt himself suffocating.

Withering.

Dying.