Swanna Song, Sung Throughout Sinnoh

“Gary, I don’t know what to say but thank you!” Kiwi told him loudly.

“What? Thank you?” Gary, also speaking up over the commotion going on around him, looked at his friend like she had lost her mind.

“Listen, I know what you went through was crazy, but you survived! And while the information wasn’t the most useful, it was more than we had before! You provided a lot of help for a lot of people by your testimony!”

“Kiwi, you can’t tell anyone else about this, okay? I can’t handle the... fame? It’s bad enough I survived the Indigo League! I don’t need more acknowledgement! I’ve been lucky to be under the radar as it is! It’s a miracle the news got there after it was all over.”

“I know! I won’t tell anyone! But you saw things that I can keep notes on as we all try to comprehend what this monster is! You saw her take abnormally enhanced attacks of a variety of moves from Isaac!”

“But I can only verify a couple of the typings of them! What good is that?”

“All the good!” Kiwi insisted.

“BYE-BYE ISAAC!!” The crowd started clapping to a beat before chanting again. “BYE-BYE ISAAC!!” More claps to a specific beat.

“FUCK TEAM SOLACE, YEAH YEAH YEAH!! FUCK TEAM SOLACE, YEAH YEAH YEAH!!” was a second cheer from a different group.

Gary looked back, smirking slightly, and then looked back to Kiwi and shook his head. “I just can’t understand what the fuck is going on! What just happened yesterday?”

“So you’re cursing now?” Kiwi smirked.

“This isn’t a joke, Kiwi!” Gary insisted. “Isaac’s... dead! What does this mean for Team Solace? Is it over now?”

“I’m quite sure he had others to take control just in case of something like this. It can’t just be over because he’s dead! Don’t be stupid!”

Gary’s heart dribbled faster in his chest as he stared solemnly after his friend’s harsh words, but he knew she was right. “Well, tell that to these guys! I think they’re mostly the same people from yesterday in here still celebrating!”

“Mmmm,” Kiwi merely nodded.

Gary looked back again, taking in everyone jumping and slapping high fives, arms around each other, a few men shoving each other around playfully. Some people even had glasses of something to drink, the contents not certain.

There were also some folks sitting down, not looking enthusiastic whatsoever. A couple of them were watching the celebrating while others just frowned at the ground, talking amongst themselves.

“But it’s irrelevant, honestly! You saw this thing get hit by Fire, Electric, and other types of moves! That’s what’s interesting! That’s what’s important! The real question right now is if she’s even alive! You didn’t get to confirm that, but we know the four Regis took her underground!”

“Why? This is crazy!” Gary cried, returning back to Kiwi. “Why would Regigigas and the other three take her to safety? And why did Regigigas have the missing Infinity Energy! They’re working together?! Do you really think they took her to the Sinnoh Underground?”

“I have no idea, but that is the working theory on the news right now!”

“And what are they gonna do if they find all four... five... of them down there? The monster alone can take out an army! Add four Legendaries to the mix??”

“Guns and things are so futile against Pokemon, in the long run, huh?” Kiwi mentioned thoughtfully.

“They all came up to protect her from Isaac’s Explosion attack! Isaac died trying to kill her, and she had a backup plan! She’s intelligent! Too intelligent! She’s more than a Pokemon! If she can think like this, she’s gotta be some kind of mutant or something! Right?!”

Kiwi had one elbow on the desk in front of her, her hand on her head, rubbing it. “I’m trying to come up with answers as best as I can, Gary.”

“She didn't even have June’s Poke Ball thing! Just, this whole thing was a bust! We got nearly nothing out of this!”

“We got hope!” Kiwi responded. “Your previous encounters resulted in almost nothing! You thought some attacks did nothing to her, but we saw that she is in fact susceptible to type attacks, now! We can fight back! Guns are even useful against her! With the proper onslaught, we can kill her quite easily! I’m just wondering if that’s what we need to do!”

“She’s special! Killing her would be a waste of information!” Gary understood.

Kiwi nodded.

There was nothing but silence now between the two over the phone.

Gary swallowed and looked away from the computer screen. His eyes closed. I can’t believe this is all happening, he thought. Why isn’t this over already? What more has to happen to end this?

“You must have noticed the shift in the climate,” Kiwi suddenly stated.

Gary looked up at Kiwi. “What?”

“There were civilians who attacked police officers during that crazy fight between Isaac and the monster. People who claimed to not be from Team Solace,” Kiwi explained. “Average, everyday people, fighting police, in the name of Team Solace, because they were fighting this monster.”

“What?” Gary repeated, stunned at the explanation of what took place right in front of him.

“Are you still not hearing me, Gary?!” Kiwi now shouted. “Is it really that noisy over there?!”

“NO! I can hear you! I’m just surprised!” he explained.

“Oh. Yeah. Team Solace’s influence is strong as ever! Isaac dying is far from the end!” Her eyes went down for a moment before returning to Gary’s. “Dare this turn into a never-ending chain! The new leader could already have been set up! That he’d detonate himself to kill that monster! That he was so determined! He likely knew it’d come down to that! He had a plan! Team Solace could reign forever! Perhaps there is more to their philosophy that isn’t so obvious to us kids!”

“Look, Kiwi!” Gary spoke, tired of speaking over the crowd. “I don’t like how you’re speaking, but all I know is, anyone on Team Solace’s side, is an enemy of mine and will be handled as such! In fact...” He stared back at the couple of groups of people who were oddly silent and sitting, looking anything but happy amongst the delighted folks. “I can’t help but wonder if some of these people aren’t those supporters, or even Team Solace members themselves. They don’t look happy like everyone else is and are acting suspicious, if anything.”

“Let’s not jump to conclusions, either, Gary,” Kiwi warned. “Not everyone is going to react the same way.”

“But they’re just sitting there,” Gary kept his eyes on the quiet ones. “And not even smiling. I bet they’re on Team Solace’s side.”

When one angry-looking man looked up at Gary, the boy returned quickly to Kiwi. “I think-”

“I think everyone’s different,” Kiwi cut him off, her head lowered. “I think - people may side with Team Solace, but not support them.”

“What does that mean?” Gary snapped at her in confusion. “What are you saying, Kiwi?!”

Kiwi’s eyes went to Gary’s and the hardened look made Gary flinch. “I’m saying that just because they may not want Team Solace to end, or Isaac to die, doesn’t make them bad people! They might have some kind of understanding for that asshole, and, maybe that’s okay! It’s a very thin line to tread, but it’s not that hard to understand when you get just how influential this group has been! They’re not trying to destroy the world! They, Isaac, truly thinks they’re saving it! And his ideas resonate with some otherwise very decent people! It’s time to wake up and realize the threat this poses to the future of the entire world, Gary! If you can’t do that, you won’t be able to stop this in the long run!”

Gary took in a breath and held it. No, he wanted to say out loud, shaking his head. He froze up. But he remembered Ish. Ish supports them. He doesn’t agree with how they’re doing things, but he said he gets it and likes their motives, basically. I mean, Ish isn’t the most decent guy I’ve ever met, but he’s good at heart, deep down. I think... He’s no Team Solace member. He’s a great guy! He cares for Pokemon! “I... get it,” Gary finally admitted in a whisper.

Kiwi squinted. “Huh? Speak up!”

“You’re right, Kiwi!” Gary said louder. He inhaled deeply through his nose. “This is bigger than I was willing to accept.”

“You should know! You’ve dealt with him firsthand, a few times! But especially on the helicopter! You know what he can do! Don’t dwell on that crap Isaac put in your head! He’s a master manipulator and will say anything to convince you to see his side of things! Whatever he was telling you about his memories and yours being alike was him toying with you! He saw an opening and put himself right in! This is how sickos like him work! It’s how Team Solace is so strong!”

Gary inhaled again and nodded, staring right into Kiwi’s eyes. He wasn’t sure how to feel about what she had just said, and he wasn’t sure what to say back, either.

“Please be careful, Gary. The bad guys aren’t so obvious anymore. I have a bad feeling about things, and where things will be in the future.”

“So do I. We all have to be careful.”

Kiwi suddenly smiled. “Good thing you and June’s stuff was located in the water.”

Gary looked away. “Yeah... They found our bags and our Pokemon and items and all that.” I can’t believe I didn’t think about them as I went down, though, Gary took in. I abandoned everyone to... fight that bitch. No. Even worse than that, I leaped out of a helicopter! But I can’t tell anyone that. Not even Kiwi. I can’t tell her about that, or that the monster tossed me off the mountain. Not yet, at least. And... Gary’s breathing got heavier. I was in the water! I can’t swim!! What was I thinking jumping out of a flying vehicle? And what was I doing actually underwater with her, trying to fight? I was swinging punches on her! How was I even able to move so agilely? It’s as if I didn’t even care I was underwater! As if that didn’t matter! As if I weren’t afraid! He sat there, reflecting on his fight with her after they hit the water. How vicious he had become. Sure, he hated the monster and wanted to kill her, but there was something else in that moment. What came over me? he wondered.

Is it really any wonder at all? he answered. She killed my sister!

“What are your next plans?” Kiwi asked.

“Huh?” Gary looked to his friend only to look down at his hands. His entire body was trembling. To stop this, he made tight fists and clenched his teeth, narrowing his eyebrows.

“I asked what you’re gonna do next. Are you okay, Gary?”

He breathed out and slowly shook his head. “I’m fine. Thanks. I’m going to get to Oreburgh and go for my next Badge. I’ve been really far behind.”

“Do you need to switch Pokemon? Are your guys okay?”

“They’re just fine. They were in their Poke Balls when they dropped into the ocean and their checkup was great,” Gary assured her.

Kiwi nodded. “That’s great. But, you may still wish to trade a Pokemon to us here at the Lab. And I want to do more studies on Tyranitar and make sure no special lingering, surprise effects of that poisoning from that monster are around, but he’s doing great. Just leave him with us a bit longer. And word from Prof. Cynthia’s lab is that Deino’s been doing good, too, despite your carelessness.”

“Can you not rub that in again?” Gary grumbled. “Please.”

“You deserve to feel like a jerk for that. I will berate you for the rest of eternity for that,” Kiwi frowned.

Gary sighed, lowering his head.

“Back on this end, others have also been recently recovering appropriately...” Kiwi added.

Gary stared at her silently. Blankly.

Kiwi stared back solemnly.

Gary’s eyes widened, and a smile started to cross his face.

Kiwi, unable to hide it any longer, let a smirk slip out.

*

“CHARIZAAAAAAARRRRD!!! IVYSAUR!!” Gary had pinned Charizard to the ground after tackling him down, crying overwhelmingly and smiling as big as he ever had. One arm was around his Charizard’s neck, his other arm extended to hold his late sister’s Ivysaur’s bulb.

Charizard didn’t put up a fight, wrapping his Trainer in his arms and letting out a joyful cry.

Ivysaur had two vines wrapped around her Trainer’s arm.

“DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!” Kingdra wailed out tearfully. She blasted out a Hydro Pump, hitting the trunk of a tree in the woods, making leaves fall from it.

“Bell! Bell!” Weepinbell had his vine around Gary’s other arm now and tugged.

Both Grass types were now pulling, and Gary’s arms were forced away from each other! “Hey. Hey. Hey! Wait!” Gary called out frantically. The boy was hoisted into the air, screaming his head off.

Charizard grunted with surprise and confusion as he sat up.

“Trio Trio Trio! Trio Trio Trio!” Dugtrio sang his praises, his three heads bobbing in turn.

“PRIIIIIIIIME!!!” Primeape lunged at Ivysaur first, punching her right in the forehead and knocking her back, causing her to let go of Gary.

Screaming at the top of his lungs, the boy was now being forced towards Weepinbell, his vine making the boy truly fly!

For a moment.

He crashed into Weepinbell, dizzy now.

Even Weepinbell was knocked out by the blow.

“Trio?” Dugtrio leaned over towards the fallen duo.

“DOOO! DOO! DOOO!” Kingdra bounced over to Gary, flopping sloppily around to reach her Trainer, and finally shoved the top of her head into his stomach.

He groaned out against that hit and pushed her head back, but Kingdra fought back, demanding pets and attention. “Kingdra!!” Gary barked, losing his cool.

“DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!” Kingdra sat up and burst into tears.

Weak and groaning, Gary’s shaky arms got him up to a sitting position. He then sighed and actually smiled, raising his hand up to pet her. “There’s no place like ho-oome!” Gary’s face was tackled down, along with the rest of his body, by Primeape.

*

The building always looked like a lazy mess of rocks and steel. But now, it was a collapsed destruction of it.

Gary, Electivire and Charizard were staring at the destroyed Gym building from behind the police tape. The Trainer shook his head. My second Badge... That evil- He huffed out through his nose. At least Byron’s okay, but, boy is he pissed. He’ll rip that bitch’s head straight off her shoulders if he ever catches her.

Throughout all the chaos in the battle of Isaac against the monster, it seemed the Thunder attacks from Isaac had caused something close to a natural disaster on Canalave City, mixed in with the destruction from civilians gone wild in the mayhem, which led to pointless fighting and even looting before special forces like the SWAT teams came in and took control.

Gary wound up having to lie to the police after he was questioned by them, claiming he had just been walking around, minding his own business, when she landed. He also claimed he was just fine and didn’t need any medical attention. Really, his main concern was being caught with the gun.

It was hours later that Gary’s stuff had been recovered from the waters. He waited in the police station with many other people who were there panicking or furious, but all collectively yelling at the officers who were trying to keep them calm about what had happened. Having explained his situation with his sunken property, a search began and actually turned up his and June’s stuff, along with a lot of other things.

His clothes were drenched, but that’s what the drying machines in the Pokemon Centers were for. The Pokedex was waterproof. There wasn’t much that was ruined, as even most of the food was sealed. Even his phone had managed to survive.

The sad news was that Prof. Oak’s book, and the portraits he and June had of themselves laughing with Aly and Robin at Prof. Oak’s Lab at the Indigo League were likely destroyed. But he told himself he would check them out later.

Gary tightened his grip on his phone as he gazed at the ruined Gym. No point wasting time here. He turned away from the building and walked. On his way, he gazed at his phone and turned it on, going to his Log-A-Graph account. He saw he had eighty alerts. Only eighty? Gary frowned. But... I haven’t checked this out in a while. I’m nothing big, but eighty alerts, and probably thirty or forty or so of those must be Scientist Gary. So... what about my post? Or maybe I don’t understand how the app works, and this is all the Plusles I got? I’m no one important but if that Harold guy can get thousands of Plusles just from a couple Badges, and in only a couple of hours, surely I can get a simple hundred for one Badge. I even tagged- Gary’s eyes widened and he stopped walking in disbelief. Three...? Three Plusles?? That’s it??! But... Gary’s fingers flew around the screen before ending up on Harold’s page. His eyes moved down for a moment before finding the post Harold had made of his two Badges. Over eight hundred thousand Plusles!! His head fell. What am I doing wrong?? How can I post almost the same thing as he did, and get back that little of a response?? We’re only one Badge apart!! “OH!” Gary walked right into somebody!

The person grunted out. The man wore a brown fedora that hid his eyes, with a brown suit and white tie. He didn’t speak.

“I’m sorry, sir,” Gary stated, seeing some of the man’s pale face, which was aged.

The guy grabbed at his hat brim a little, pulling it down slightly, and then raised it up. He had black eyes and long black hair that got down to his neck. “Excuse me. I-”

“No, it was my fault. I was-” There was a sudden growl that pulled Gary’s attention away from the man and he looked back.

“LECTIVIIIII!!”

Both Charizard and Electivire were in each other’s faces, Charizard sneering while Electivire had a challenging smile.

“Hey, you guys! Come on! This is the time-!”

Charizard blasted at Electivire, letting out a Fire Blast!

Electivire leaped right over it easily and then slugged Charizard in the face with Thunder Punch.

Charizard roared out and collapsed. Grunting, he lifted himself up, shaking his head, and then flew for Electivire.

“YOU GUYS CAN’T DO THIS HERE!!” Gary ran to them.

Electivire reached out and stood his ground, catching Charizard by the shoulders. Charizard roared, forcing himself into Electivire, but Electivire, sliding along the ground but keeping himself steady, leaned into Charizard’s force.

Charizard raised a claw glowing white and Slashed into Electivire’s face.

Electivire’s eyes slammed shut as he screamed out. His body then glowed white and he used Strength to slam Charizard down.

Charizard’s claws gripped at the ground and his jaws opened wide, bursting into flames.

Electivire sneered and pulled back his right leg.

As the Electric type’s leg shot out, Charizard’s head came forward and bit down. Both moves connected. Charizard choked out painfully and tumbled away as Electivire pulled his foot back and hopped backwards on his left foot, grunting and crying out.

“VIIIIIII!!” Electivire burst into flames!

“A Burn!” Gary gasped loudly. He shook his head. “Wait! NO! STOP THE FIGHT! PLEASE!! NOT HERE!!”

Electivire’s flames vanished and he flexed his arms.

Charizard was getting up slowly, leering. He was breathing heavy, leaning forward. While tired, he was not at the limit.

“Hey kid, this isn’t a training spot!”

Gary looked up to see three male police officers approaching him. “Oh, no,” Gary groaned. “Sirs! I need help! They’re feuding and not listening to me!”

The officers kept coming. “Use your Poke Balls and put them away, kid! There’s plenty of places to train in this city, but this ain’t it!” one spoke.

Gary sighed and grabbed his Poke Balls. “This isn’t gonna woooooooork,” he sang in a mutter, rolling his eyes, but he tried his best.

The two Pokemon were blasting at each other, causing a huge disturbance that was stopping passersby.

All three officers screamed as one of Charizard’s Flamethrowers got fairly close to them.

“I DON’T GET PAID ENOUGH FOR THIS!!” one officer screamed, and he ran off.

“WE NEED BACKUP! BACKUUUUP!!!” a second officer wailed as he ran away as well.

“YOU COWARDS!!! YOU CAN’T LEAVE ME HERE BY MYSELF!!” the last officer barked, but didn’t run.

The second cop shouted something back that wasn’t too clear while still running.

Charizard was flying, scooping up Electivire, and taking him into the sky. While Electivire struggled to attack, Charizard made his dive for the ground and let him go, Electivire crashing from Sky Drop.

Electivire stood easily, brushing off his shoulders. His horns sparked, and then he yelled out as the Burn returned.

Charizard was quick to attack, taking the opportunity to attack with Fire Blast from the sky.

Electivire’s Burn damage went away and he saw the move coming. He waited. Watched. He pulled back both arms and his fists sparked. He waited. Watched. “VIIIIRRRRE!!” He used both sparking fists to swing into the Fire Blast!

There was an explosion that sent Electivire tumbling hard, wailing out helplessly. He ended up sprawled on his front.

“Whoa! Charizard did it! But wait!” He frowned up at the big dragon. “Charizard, I’m ordering you to STOOOOP!!”

Charizard kept his eyes on Electivire. He finally looked to Gary and grunted, but turned back to Electivire and flew for the ground.

Electivire remained still.

He’s not out yet, and I don’t care right now, Gary knew. This battle ends now. And yet, deep down inside, he wondered if Charizard could beat him. I didn’t want another Badge until I beat him, Gary remembered. Until I got him under control. Is this it? Is this that time? “YOU GUYS, LET’S JUST BATTLE ELSEWHERE!! IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE HERE!!”

The sky darkened suddenly. Or was it really so sudden?

Gary stared at the skies, noticing the lightning flashing. When did this happen? No. “NO!” He glared at Electivire.

Electivire lifted his head and snickered. A big bolt came out of his horns and into the sky, causing more lightning to flash, and one giant bolt came down and blew up Charizard.

Charizard was flying through the air, calling out helplessly. He slid on his side and flinched repeatedly.

Electivire got back to his feet with some grunts and groans. He puffed out his chest and smiled at Charizard. Forming two fists, he said strongly, “Vire!”

Gary waited, gripping the two Poke Balls. Come on, Charizard. I know you’re not out. Please! he pleaded. The Blaze Ability. Activate! Come on, Charizard! Any second now! Charizard, get up! With Charizard remaining motionless, Gary’s eyes started to fill with tears as frustration filled his head. It’s not fair. Charizard... You only just got back. You just recovered. This fight wasn’t fair! He wasn’t ready is all it was! That’s all it was! Gary turned to Electivire angrily, but he didn’t know what to scream out.

Electivire turned to Gary, and then he looked away to Charizard. “Vire!” he repeated.

Charizard stayed still.

Gary’s eyes closed and he sniffled. “This was supposed to be a nice walk for us all together,” he muttered so slowly. “This was supposed to be a reunion of sorts. Guys...” He looked sadly to the two Pokemon.

Electivire had been staring at Gary, now looking to Charizard again. “Electivire,” he said to Gary, his eyes having moved to the boy again.

“I don’t wanna hear it!!” Gary snapped louder than he had intended. “Return!!” Charizard was called back. He stared at Electivire and, gripping his Poke Ball even tighter, just turned away from him and headed back to the Pokemon Center.

As he walked, he recognized things from just a couple of minutes ago. The familiarity of it made him stop, and he looked around. Oh, shoot. That old man with the fedora. He’s gone. Duh. Makes total sense. Frowning his eyes, he kept walking, though a lot slower now, something suddenly bothering him, as if trying to trigger a certain memory.

*

Staring out the window of the blimp, Gary’s thoughts went back and forth. I can’t post these photos of Canalave City. His eyes went down to his phone and he saw the pictures he took. All for stupid Plusles on Log-A-Graph? I shouldn’t have taken these pics to begin with. This is disgusting. But... it is just information to spread. And I really was there, too. But, the last thing I want is attention about who I am. All I’ve been through. Me being traceable. I want the fame of a Pokemon Master, sure, I guess. But, not all this bull. Not this Team Solace, monster, whatever, crap. I’ve had enough. Besides that, lives were lost in Canalave. I can say I’m posting stuff so people will get information and the truth, but a side of me is mad about my Plusle amount and I know it. In fact, why am I even thinking about this? This is so stupid! There’s so much more going on in the world than a freaking Log-A-Graph post and Plusles! Geez, I’m letting this damn internet crap really get to my head! I’m better than this! He locked his phone.

To be honest, what I need to think about is the fact of where I’m headed now. For the like, tenth time or so already! Gary sighed as the blimp continued over the water. And after this, I will never be caught in freaking Jubilife City ever again!

He turned his phone back on and went to Log-A-Graph without knowing he was doing so, and noticed he had a new message from Scientist Gary. Rolling his eyes, he just decided to get it over with. We were talking only ten minutes ago, Gary groaned to himself before looking at the image:

Woke white people with there Hispanic friends be like: Of course I know Spanish, I’m culturally habla gated!

Beneath these words was a white guy with a cheesy smile wearing a sombrero and a huge, fake black mustache and both thumbs up.

“Pffft!” Gary slipped out, taken by surprise. That was funny, he smirked, trying to hide it, though there was no one to hide it from. He used one of the stickers of a laughing Pikachu rolling on its back and holding its stomach to display his reaction. I mean, it wasn’t that funny but it was pretty okay, Gary thought to himself. He was about to lock the phone but decided to tap on the profile picture Scientist Gary had that was outlined in a blinking yellow color.

This took him to what was called the BS, or Behind the Scenes, section of a person’s account. It wasn’t a permanent post, but a temporary one that remained for only a day.

There’s no telling how long it will be before someone else will make you feel happy about yourself. Take today to be that person.

Gary took longer than he thought he would to dwell on that post, feeling a heavy blanket of sadness fall over him. Well, that was depressing, he thought before locking his phone again.

*

Gary walked through the woods, keeping close to Electivire and Charizard. Keeping an eye on them.

Just like they were keeping an eye on each other.

The discomforting aura of all this hurt Gary.

Electivire seemed to be a lot more tolerable since what happened on the mountain by Alamos Town, but with him and Charizard out, it was like they had a score to settle.

Gary wanted this battle to happen, but not until they were a lot closer to Jubilife City. Though, even thinking of that name made him nauseous. It was like a meal he’d eaten ten too many times.

Can’t believe my big coat got shot up, Gary thought. Hopefully I can pick up a new one soon. It’s too cold here in Sinnoh for just this Mewtwo jacket. I need to battle more Trainers so I can hopefully get one.

Gary gasped at the sight and cries of several creatures that came tumbling out of the grass all of a sudden. Or perhaps more accurately, rolled out! There were several Voltorb!

His eyes ran over all of them. “Voltorb! Right.” He grabbed a Poke Ball and enlarged it. “Charizard, after one! Rock Smash!”

Charizard charged at one and tried to swing a glowing fist, but it missed as the Pokemon was just too fast! He swung for another, and another, missing and missing!

One Voltorb he had missed actually stopped and turned back to face Charizard! “Voltoorb!” Its body sparked and it hit Charizard with an Electric attack.

While Charizard did react negatively to it, he shook it off and shot out a Flamethrower next!

The Voltorb rolled out of the way and then back in place.

“Charizard! I didn’t say do that! Let’s keep it cool in a forest, remember??” Gary insisted.

Charizard gave a nod, still glaring at Voltorb.

“VIIIIIII!” Electivire leaped out of nowhere and Kicked the ball!

Voltorb grunted and then cried out repeatedly as it hit tree after tree after tree after tree!

Gary groaned with fright, covering one ear with his hand and having to settle for a finger in the other since that hand held the enlarged Poke Ball. He really feared sudden, loud noises, and Voltorb was a prime candidate for random explosions!

Voltorb ended up rolling to a stop several feet away.

More Voltorb poured into the area now, and some were curving around Gary, heading for the attacked Voltorb! While many kept rolling past Voltorb, a few stopped to form a line in front of it.

“Oh, no!” Gary kept his ears plugged. Please don’t blow up, please don’t blow up, please please please! “Charizard, get rid of ‘em!” Not Flamethrower, not Flamethrower! “Use... Slash!”

Charizard went for them and struck with Slash.

Electivire used Thunderbolt on the four newest Voltorb and they all screamed.

With Electivire’s move over, Charizard continued his Slash and tumbled the four off into the woods. Charizard was now snarling at Electivire.

Electivire merely shrugged and then laughed.

“OKAY GOOO!!” Gary threw his Poke Ball at the remaining Voltorb Electivire had Kicked.

It was still knocked out.

The Poke Ball hit and took it in before trembling in the grass.

PING!

Gary let out a breath of relief. At least it’s gone before it blew up, Gary thought. It can explode in the Lab for all I care. Just not in front of me. Not that I want it to at all but sheesh! He shook his head and looked around. His eyes stopped on the two Pokemon he had out. “What a random swarm!”

*

Gary had been moving at a faster pace than normal on his way to Jubilife City, but eventually he decided it was time to stop and rest. And eat.

Charizard, Weepinbell, Dugtrio, Galvantula, Kingdra, Ivysaur, Raichu, and Primeape were finishing munching now.

It was Electivire supplying Magneton with electricity, having already eaten.

He’s really been getting better since getting it all off his chest, Gary thought while staring at him. It’s unbelievable. So what does that mean? That he’s telling the truth? Having gotten it all out, he’s now able to work with others better? What will this mean when we finally rescue June? What will I do then?

Gary looked down to Prof. Oak’s note that he had taken out of the whole book. The book, note, and portraits of him, June, Kiwi, Robin and Aly were wet and the ink smeared. He also had his Pokedex in his other hand, looking up the location written on the map drawn on the note.

Route 210.

This is where that garden is at. The Gracidea Garden, Gary remembered. And that’s right where X marks the spot.

He looked at the smeared X that covered a very special name.

I’m going there soon, Gary promised. And I won’t mess up like I did with Jirachi. This Pokemon is mine.

This only made him think about the fact that the monster did in fact have Jirachi at one point. And yet, when he saw her yesterday, she didn’t have it anymore!

And the Ranger... That bitch killed that Ranger girl!

And... how did my hand recover?

How did I end up in Team Solace’s helicopter?

What in the world was I even thinking leaping out of the helicopter to fight that thing?

Why did Regigigas have the Infinity Energy?

These questions and so many more swam through Gary’s head as he kept his eyes on the X that covered the name: Shaymin.