Swanna Song, Sung Throughout Sinnoh

She tasted as human as anything else.

June, her face covered in filth, bruises and moisture, trembled on the floor.

A bright light would have shone on her more clearly if not blocked by a towering figure.

She won’t give me my answers. She’s no use to me. A clawed, black hand spread wide and then wrapped around June’s throat. She is of no use to me. Then die. Your neck snaps, your breath stops. Your life dies.

June’s eyes bulged, looking ready to pop, as the claw squeezed even tighter.

Yes! Die! Die! Die here! Now! Smiling, the thick tongue slid along equally plump lips, slurping before swallowing thirstily. I’ll drink in her blood this day.

The voices of others urged to destroy this abomination.

June’s body flailed, stomped, grasped wildy in their final desperation to be free, her death being accepted.

With a roar in June’s face, another arm raised and slashed into her chest, cutting for her heart to put her to rest.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!” Gary sat up. Inhaling hard, he looked up into the sky.

It was still dark out, but the sun was on its way.

Gary fell back onto his back and breathed heavily, and then he screamed! He sat up and whipped around, and his left hand gripped his right wrist when his right hand burst into pain at all the movement.

Riolu stood leering at her Trainer, matching in breathing with him. She swallowed at the same time Gary did, staring uncomfortably at him.

Gary stared right back at her. “WHAT DO YOU WANT??!!” he demanded frightfully. “STOP DOING THAT!!”

“Raichu!” Raichu eyed the two, looking like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

Riolu never looked away, her gaze focused and stern for her Trainer.

*

“It is now believed, due to the released records over a decade ago, that Mega Evolution was in fact not originally found in the Kalos region as the discredited, previous professor, Mr. Sycamore claimed, but instead, this incredible leap in humanity’s understanding of Pokemon instead began in the Hoenn region,” Gary read out loud off of his phone. “The Dra... Draconids? The Draconids, a group of people which myth would have you believe still exist to this day, and who had a deep bond with Dragon type Pokemon, are said to speak of ancient times when it had been said that there was constant warring between Kyogre and Groudon, in their supposed ‘Primal Formes.’ It’s said that meteorites fell from the skies, Rayquaza with them, and the warring was quelled. This repeated, supposedly, two more times, every thousand years, stopped due to the collective power of Rayquaza, the prayers of the Draconids for the warring to end, and the power within the falling meteors that are believed to be the original Mega Stones and Key Stones, leading to Rayquaza Mega Evolving and saving the Draconids, and the world. This cycle of war is still believed to continue in a never-ending cycle.”

Electivire had June’s bag on his right shoulder as usual, walking through the thick forest.

Raichu kept by Gary, his sunglasses on as he smiled outward, his mouth wide.

Looking at Raichu, Gary couldn’t help but think of the late singer from before his time, Charles Ray, and this made him snicker. He looked back to his phone in his left hand, having expanded it to the size of a magazine, and saw that he still had no signal. For a moment, he had a connection, but it was gone again. He had loaded the page on Mega Evolution before that.

A shriek came out through the woods, Gary and Raichu gasping as they froze and looked around.

Electivire also stopped to eye the area suspiciously. “Electivire.”

Where is that coming from? Gary panicked as another scream from a female rang through the woods. Someone’s in trouble! “You two! Can you spot where it’s coming from?!” He turned to the two Pokemon, also trying to remember who he had on his team that he could send out to help.

Electivire whipped around, glaring out behind him. “Lectivirrrrrre...” he growled.

“Raichu!” Raichu was looking in the opposite direction, but then he turned to where Electivire was focused.

Gary looked first to where Raichu had first glanced, and then turned to where the two Pokemon now looked.

“ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRR!!!!!”

Gary was so terrified by the sudden roar that he couldn’t even swallow in fright. He was suddenly a lot less interested in the more human sceams he’d heard. I don’t wanna end up like her! he decided. He shrunk his phone down swiftly, touching the screen with his fingers specifically until it could fit in his pocket again, which is where he stuffed it. Gary looked behind him again, sure he’d heard something.

Something came out close by them, colliding hard into Electivire before falling.

Gary screamed and glared out at the attacker. “HEY!” His face went from determined preparation, to shock. “A... girl?”

The female shook her head with eyes closed tight behind glasses and then looked up at Electivire. “I’m sorry!” She paused for a moment, taking in the towering Pokemon she had run into. “Are you okay, cutie?” She got up and dusted off her jeans and adjusted her light-blue coat with a fur hood. She was very thin, very little, and very cute, smiling up with delight at Electivire. She kept that smile, turning to Gary, and almost immediately was caught up in Raichu as she gushed out. “Aaaaaaaaaawwww!! A Raichuuuu!! Come here cutieeee!!” She ran up to him and kneeled down. “Look at those little sunglasseeees! Can I touch youuuuu?”

“Raaaaaaichuuu!” He extended his head towards her, desiring a pet.

“Oh, do you have a Pikachu, too?!” she cried out happily as she looked up at Gary while petting Raichu.

Raichu’s ears fell and he frowned at the girl. “Raichu,” he spoke irritably.

“Uummmm...” Gary was having trouble remembering. Pikachu isn’t with me, I know that much. Was it one of the Pokemon knocked out? Was he given to Rob when we did that trade? “No,” he answered. He squinted at her, finding her familiar.

“Awwww, I love Pikachuuuus! But I also love you, too, sweetie!” She rubbed Raichu’s chin while also rubbing his head.

Raichu didn’t look pleased anymore, taking the pets more grudgingly than before, mumbling.

“Ooooooh, aren’t you just the cutest bubba?” she kept on going.

“Wait, I do know you from somewhere,” Gary almost remembered. “Don’t I...?” He started doubting it again.

The little lady stood up, arguably only Gary’s height. She looked like she was older than Gary, but not by too many years, and yet seemed to possibly be an adult at the same time. It was hard to tell with her youthful appearance and hesitant size. Her jeans fit her very well, leaving little to wonder beyond them. She stared at Gary with a small, curious smile. Her eyes widened, and her mouth spread into an even bigger smile. Her eyes then further expanded in size and changed shape, now looking like half of a moon, expanding beyond the size of her actual head! Her smile now took up about a third of her face. Gaping wide, it was visibly pink inside, two fangs hanging out from the top lip. Her face was now pitch black and rounded, no longer the light complexion, and surrounded by a purple haze! “Mmmmmm, wait, yeah! Yeeeees! You’re the boy from the Pokemon Kanto League!” the ghoul spoke in the lady’s voice.

Gary screamed in terror at the top of his lungs, along with Raichu and even Electivire.

The fiend frowned and raised a finger to the wide mouth. The skin on the rest of her body was still light. It was just her face. The face of...

Gastly?? Gary realized.

“Ssshhhh! You can’t scream in these woods, boy!” she whispered. “You’ll lure the monster that lurks in these woods.”

Gary screamed again, his entire body desiring to run, but he also didn’t want to turn his back on the situation. “Gastly??”

“Gastly?” The face of Gastly raised an eyebrow, and the hand of the woman lowered. The eyes looked up, and then the head turned, the entire body also moving to look behind her. “Gastly!!” The body moved away from the head of Gastly, and the head of the young lady was shown to be completely normal! The female looked back at Gary and then back to the Ghost and smirked at it. “Gastlyyyyy.”

The Gastly turned to the little lady, keeping a big smile. “Gastly! Gaaaastly!” Gastly laughed.

Gary sneered at it. If I never run into another Ghost type, it’ll be too soon... “So is that yours, then?”

“Yes! This is my partner, Gastly! He and I predict the future together!” the female gushed. “I saw you at the Pokemon Kanto League and asked to predict your future with your girlfriend!”

Gary’s eyes widened and he gasped openly, remembering her. But he got quiet after that and swallowed. “That’s not my girlfriend, but anyway, I do remember.”

“Oooh, did yous two break up?”

“NO!” he barked at her.

She let out a short, awkward laugh and leaned back, her eyes shocked at Gary’s outburst. “Whoa! Take it easy! What happened, then? Aha ha ha.”

“We were never together, but that’s really irrelevant. Anyway, I do remember you, but what was your name?”

“Psychic Tiny, at your service!” She winked adorably, holding up two fingers in a peace sign. Her arms extended out at her sides and an energy seemed to take over as she and Gastly almost appeared to be spinning in place without moving a muscle. “Together, me and Gastly can see beyond today, through tomorrow, and know the paths life sets before us, and anyone else! We are on the road to becoming the world’s greatest psychic duo! We read about your love, your heart, your end goals, and so much more!”

“Gaaastlyyy!”

Psychic Tiny and her Gastly had stopped their mystical twirling and were looking up to the sky, her two fingers above them.

Gary stared at her uncomfortably. She’s cute, but weird... I don’t even know if this is cute right now, or weird. “Psychic... Tiny. Right...”

She lowered her hand and she and Gastly faced Gary. “So, what brings you all the way out here to Sinnoh?”

Gary stared at her weakly. “You don’t know? Aren’t you the psychic?”

She laughed at this, which made Gary smile a little bit. “Psychic powers don’t work just like that. Besides, I need Gastly’s help to fully make my powers shine.”

“So, did Gastly tell you nothing about what would happen at the League with Team Solace?” His smile was now gone.

Psychic Tiny sighed and smiled at Gastly, who stared back nervously. She returned back to Gary. “Listen, we’re psychic, okay?”

“He’s Ghost, actually. And Poison,” Gary teased.

Psychic Tiny crossed her arms and pouted. “You know what I mean. Psychic powers are strongly associated with Ghost type Pokemon, mediums, and all that stuff. But the abilities of psychic powers aren’t always the same, based on the person getting them.”

Something felt familiar about this conversation to Gary all of a sudden. At Prof. Oak’s Lab... he recalled. We were discussing psychic ability and how it's received with him.

“It’s not possible to control Psychic type Pokemon without having psychic ability, and since psychic powers are related to Ghost type Pokemon, and I can control Gastly just fine, that proves I have good psychic ability!”

“Wait, that’s just a myth. Psychic Pokemon can be used by anyone.” Gary was familiar with the claim that Psychic Pokemon could only be raised by actual people with telepathic ability. The claim was so easy to disprove and only upheld nowadays by Psychic “purists.” “In fact...” Gary thought for a moment, looking to the sky. “I even own a Psychic type!” he remembered, looking down to her again. “And we get along just fine.”

Psychic Tiny just stared back at him. “Wweeeeelllll... Maybe you have-”

“RRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!”

Gary wanted to throw up hearing the terrifying roar and he swallowed hard. “Yo, what exactly is that? Should we be getting out of here? I almost forgot about that!”

“It’s why I told you not to scream. You’ll upset the forest, and the trees will come to life and eat us all alive!” Psychic Tiny’s face showed concern, fright, and worst of all to Gary, sincerity.

She can’t really be serious. He snickered and let out some laughter, but his companion didn’t laugh back.

“It isn’t a joke. What’s your name again?”

“I’m Gary.”

“Gary, we have to get out of here before it’s too late. And we have to keep quiet or else we’ll be eaten.”

“And where are we going to go? I have to reach the mountains by Alamos City. If that roaring’s just a Pokemon, I-”

“Viiiiiiire!!”

Gary and Psychic Tiny turned, startled.

“Electivire!” Gary cried.

Electivire had tight fists, facing Gastly. His fists were sparking, but so were Raichu’s cheeks.

“Raichu! Raichu!” Raichu pleaded, reaching out for Electivire.

Gastly had a nasty face, refusing to back down.

Electivire yelled out, getting angrier. His fists now burst into flames.

“Gastly, no!” Psychic Tiny told her Pokemon. “Stop it!”

Gastly closed his eyes and turned away from Electivire.

Electivire puffed out his chest, inhaling huge!

CRAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSHHHHH!!!!

Everyone shouted out and looked to the loud sound.

Electivire choked out a large flame for just a second.

But that was all that was needed before one particularly small tree, only a few inches taller than Gary, caught on fire! The tree was affected badly, almost appearing to react with bends and shivers, the branches extending for the sky. But that was impossible and just some kind of illusion. Grunts and moans were even coming out from the tree, but that was obviously some kind of wind coming through.

Whoa, how spooky is that? Gary thought. It’s almost like the tree is in pain! I can even hear something coming from it! But it can’t be... He recalled what Psychic Tiny had said about the trees coming to life to eat them, and he took a nervous step back as his eyes got bigger with fear.

Electivire coughed a few times, hitting his chest.

One gnarly branch seemed to reach up, and the branch was suddenly surrounded by a black aura with a purple outline! The aura took the form of a claw. This claw came for Electivire!

“Elec??” Electivire looked shocked and didn’t move!

“Gastly, Protect!”

Gastly flew in front of the claw that came for Electivire and held it back!

The claw vanished, and to everyone’s disbelief and shock, the tree started to pat itself down! The branches of the tree were smacking at itself, getting rid of the fire and causing a few embers!

Those aren’t branches... Gary realized, squinting in disbelief. And... isn’t that a face I see??

The tree stomped forward two steps and stopped.

“Gastly, use Shadow Ball!”

A black Ball formed in front of Gastly’s open mouth and then flew away from him, hitting the tree.

“That’s not a tree!!” Gary screamed as it collapsed hard. He pulled out his Pokedex.

Trevenant. The Elder Tree Pokemon. The evolved form of Phantump, and a Ghost and Grass type Pokemon. This Pokemon can control actual trees, using its own roots as the nervous system for them all. It would never harm peaceful creatures like fellow Pokemon, unless they are of the Fire type.

“The thing’s a Pokemon!” Gary exclaimed.

Trevenant started to get back up, groaning.

Gary was still confused, thinking this thing was once a tree. As Trevenant stood again, he shook his head and focused. “Electivire, Flamethrower! NOW!”

Electivire stomped forward and punched his fists together, fiery sparks and embers flying from their hits. He then lunged outward and socked Trevenant with Fire Punch.

Trevenant screamed out and fell down again.

“Whatever. Close enough,” Gary muttered and then dug into his pocket. “GOOOO!” He threw a Poke Ball.

It hit Trevenant and took it inside before hitting the ground.

And shaking.

And shaking some more.

And shaking yet again before...

POP!

Trevenant burst out. It was leaning over, glaring at all of them. Its eyes stayed on Electivire. “Trevenant...”

“Electivire, use Ice Punch this time! Let’s go! Finish it now!” Gary insisted.

But Electivire didn’t move. At least, not at first. He did, however, end up nodding at it!

Trevenant nodded back and turned away, walking into the forest.

“ELECTIVIRE!!” Gary was less mad that Electivire wasn’t listening, and more mad about Trevenant walking away! What’s going on here?? He looked to his belt and tried to recall who he had on his team. Screw it, anything must be-! He grabbed a ball and then froze, Trevenant gone amongst the identical trees. “TREVENANT, WAIT!!” He ran forward but stopped quickly. “Trevenant!” He then glared back at Electivire. “Why didn’t you-?” He gave up, knowing this wouldn’t go anywhere, and just screamed out at him before looking around for Trevenant one last time. His eyes then surveyed the ground. “I can’t even find my Poke Ball,” he added. “Thanks...” he said the lowest of all, unsure who to blame, but knowing he was mostly at fault. “So it was just a Pokemon!” He turned to Psychic Tiny. “Not a forest come to life!”

Psychic Tiny stood with an awkward, embarrassed smirk on her face. “Oh... Yeah... Well, I mean, it may not have been a literal set of trees and forests, but, Trevenant is close enough to what I was describing.”

“It didn’t even want to eat us!” Gary fumed.

“Yeah! Because your Electivire and him had an agreement to let it go to spare us!” Psychic Tiny insisted, smiling big.

“Did Gastly tell you that?” Gary squinted at her.

Psychic Tiny sucked her teeth. “Oh, be quiet.”

“How about no? You and your stupid ghost stories! It was just a Ghost type!”

“Well, I wasn’t worried about Ghost types,” Psychic Tiny glared at Gary. “I was afraid of the actual ghosts who haunt these woods! Ghost type Pokemon are still living creatures. Ghosts are the souls of the restless deceased.”

“Look, if you’re hunting ghosts, leave me out of it. I’m just headed for the mountains.”

“I’m not here for ghosts, either. That’s why Gastly is with me. To keep me safe. I want to get out of here, too.”

A big breeze blew through suddenly.

Psychic Tiny seemed to be okay, her shoulders pressed up a little, but Gary was chilled to the bone! He shoved his hands into his coat pockets as far as they allowed.

Electivire had a stern face on Gastly.

Gastly frowned upward, looking into the sky. He might have even been purposely ignoring Electivire.

Raichu was watching Electivire sadly, his ears down.

Psychic Tiny suddenly crouched down before sitting. She wrapped her arms around her knees and buried her head in them.

“Psychic Tiny, are you okay?” Gary questioned, staring at her curiously.

She didn’t say a word.

Gary waited, getting nervous with every several seconds, and after a couple more moments, he spoke again. “Psychic Tiny? Ma’am?”

She remained still.

Gary frowned, feeling a growing discomfort. “Psychic Tiny! What’s wrong?” He looked to Gastly. He wasn’t sure if he was intending to actually speak to the Ghost, but his mouth did open, and dropped wide. “Hey.” He looked around. “Gastly? Gastly??” He looked around him, but there was only Electivire and Raichu. “Psychic Tiny! Where’s Gastly?!” He was now starting to panic. I don’t want another scary thing to happen, Gary thought.

“Raichu. Raaaaichu.” Raichu pulled at Gary’s jean leg.

Gary looked down to the Pokemon, not sure of what Raichu wanted. He was trembling in the cold, but not necessarily because of it, the wind howling strongly now. Should I approach her? Shake her? Could she be asleep?

The wind got wilder, more forceful.

A raging scream combined with the wind and the area darkened to gray.

A BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!! of thunder sent Gary’s heart into his throat as he himself flew into the air, shrieking.

Lightning flashed and then came down to the ground, hitting Raichu with a startling, loud CRRRRACK!!

Raichu’s body tightened and braced up on the impact.

Gary was forced backwards and hit the ground, unable to even scream since he hadn’t inhaled yet from the last yell. He was left to inhale painfully when he landed, his right hand now aching badly.

Electivire was watching all of this with interest, but without panic or surprise.

The lightning was gone quickly, and then more thunder returned, but it was a low rumble. The sky lightened up again, becoming a much lighter gray, the sun hidden behind clouds.

Whoa. A passing storm? No rain? Gary processed, keeping his eyes upward.

Raichu relaxed his body and smiled at Gary.

Gary turned to Psychic Tiny, who was still curled up in a ball as a gentler wind blew. “Psychic Tiny!” He crawled over to her, keeping his wrapped up hand off the ground and crawling with his remaining three options. “Hey! Come on! Are you okay?” He reached her and froze up, hesitating. He really didn’t want that Gastly to pop up again. But what was wrong with the lady? What if Gastly is harming her somehow?? I have to know! “Psychic Tiny!” He grabbed her shoulder.

Her head rose!

“AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!” Gary let out. He then slapped his good hand over his mouth and swallowed.

Nothing was wrong. Psychic Tiny was just fine. There was no Gastly, no monster, no demons. Just the young lady staring at him innocently. “Are you okay?”

“Me? Yes, I’m okay! What was wrong with you? Why weren’t you answering me? Why did you curl up like this?”

“When the wind blows in these woods, you have to beware of Gastly. They’re made of poisonous gas, so they get blown away and you could inhale their poisonous vapors.”

“OH! That’s why you curled up! So where did-?” Gary turned and, “YYAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!”

“BOO!” Gastly then laughed, “Gaaaa-haaaa-haaaa-haaaa-haaa-haaaa-haaaaastly!”

Screaming frightfully, Gary fell away from him and right into Psychic Tiny.

Gastly went right on laughing at this.

Gary frowned, but knowing there was no danger, he got to his feet. “I’m sorry. Are you okay?” He helped Psychic Tiny up next.

“I’m okay,” she said unhappily to the boy, and then frowned at Gastly. “Gastly! That wasn’t funny or nice! Apologize!” She smiled at Gary. “I’m so sorry, what was your name? One more time?” she laughed.

“Gary,” he smiled easily.

She turned to Gastly. “Apologize to Gary right now!”

Gary hesitantly turned to Gastly, not wanting any apology, but for that thing to just go into a Poke Ball and stay there until he was away from them both, assuming the Pokemon had one.

Gastly looked sad. “I’m sorry, Gary. Forgive me, please!” he spoke in a deep, pleasant, charismatic voice. He then smiled big for him.

Gary nodded. Sort of. He was aware that on rare occasions, Pokemon could learn to speak human, but it didn’t make things any less confusing and strange to him. He was just too tired at this point to express it. He then turned to Psychic Tiny. “This thing can speak human and Pokemon?”

“Yep! He always chooses to go back and forth, but yeah,” Psychic Tiny nodded, beaming.

Gary turned back to Gastly. “Okay... Well. Nice to meet you.”

“Gaaaastly!” Gastly responded, his eyes closed now and he nodded with a big, open smile.

Gary rolled his eyes on the inside, and then turned back to Psychic Tiny. “And it woulda been nice to know I coulda been poisoned, by the way, rather than saving yourself and going silent,” Gary said sharply.

Psychic Tiny looked sad now. “Sorry... I thought you’d follow along and figure it out.”

“How could I possibly have figured that out??” Gary let out, throwing his hands up and letting them fall to his sides hard. “It was completely random! I thought you were sick or something was happening!”

“Awww! That’s so cute!” she was smiling again.

“No it isn’t!” Gary was getting angry, but he could feel himself starting to blush a little. “I could’ve been killed!”

“Well, you’re the Pokemon Trainer, aren’t you? Shouldn’t you know this stuff?” Psychic Tiny shot back at him.

Gary grit his teeth silently. This is going nowhere, he told himself. “Anyway, it’s been great meeting you two, but I have to get out of here, as you know,” he grumbled.

“Yeah! We’re on the same road! We’ll be separating soon.”

I wonder if she can tell I don’t exactly want to be traveling with her... he wondered. She is, supposedly, psychic. Pffft. Traveling with this nut. This feels familiar, actually... No, not June. Someone else... His eyes rose some and then dipped to the side, and then finally returned to Psychic Tiny. Some other idiot I used to know... His eyes moved side to side a few times before landing on the girl again.

“Come on!” Psychic Tiny grabbed his hand.

Gary’s heart jumped at the touch.

“We have to find shelter before dark! The nighttime is when the Dark type Pokemon in this area grow in strength! You can’t beat a Dark type at night. They become invincible and invisible! More scarier than any Ghost type could be!”

“Wait wait wait wait hold up!” Gary frowned. “That’s not at all how Gho- I mean Dark types work! Dark types don’t become invisible or invincible, ever!”

“They do!” Psychic Tiny insisted, smiling. “It’s true!”

“Do you just believe everything you hear??” Gary blurted out, unable to hold it in.

“No, but I heard it before.”

Oh, this girl is just dumb! Gary said silently. I can’t stick around with this idiot! She’s the type to just listen to any rumor that comes out and believe it! People like that often live in fear of Pokemon! But, she has a Gastly. She can’t be that bad, maybe... “WHOA!!” Gary was yanked by his hand, taken by Psychic Tiny through the woods. “Hey, wait, Tiny!”

Psychic Tiny laughed and giggled excitedly.

Gary looked back and saw Raichu chasing after him, a surprised look on his face.

Electivire didn’t move, glaring at them.

Looking ahead, Gary gasped seeing Gastly over Psychic Tiny’s head, laughing with joy.

He could have stopped all of this and gotten himself free from Psychic Tiny, easily. But he couldn’t help enjoying having such a cute girl holding his hand, pulling him against his will, leading the way.

Even if it meant leading him towards another day of more of her complete idiocy.