Swanna Song, Sung Throughout Sinnoh

“Pokemon Trainer Gary, last name unclear at this time, is undergoing heavy interrogation by police after reportedly being apprehended while in possession of the Poke Ball that is supposedly able to capture human beings!” a news reporter stated from the live VU-Tube video playing on Gary’s phone. “This is the same object said to have held captive the body of the late, previous Pokemon Champion of the Sinnoh region, Prof. Cynthia, who, after famously losing her title to reigning champion Tobias, honorably ended up as the region’s Pokemon professor following the passing of Professor Rowan.”

Gary was sitting in the grass outside of Emeragrove Town, leaning against a tree while watching the news on his phone.

Previously, Gary had all the Pokemon stay in the woods with June’s body and went to the nearby Emeragrove Town and got the police, but not before wisely hiding his gun in a separate area. After retrieving the police, who got June to a hospital, he was arrested and questioned extensively, as expected, on how he had come across the girl’s body, and if he had any ties with Team Solace, among other things. A couple of the officers explained that a recent video that had come out from Team Solace asked for Gary by name, and that he may be in danger. The boy was finally released some time late that night. There was a large group of journalists and news crews outside of the police station when Gary left, and he had to be escorted away by officers while questions and statements were being yelled out at him. Gary left the town to get his hidden gun and, completely exhausted, ended up sleeping where he was now watching the news.

The woman reporting was wearing a tight, sleeveless blue top while sitting behind a big, white desk. “Pokemon Trainer Gary is notable for making it to the top sixteen of the last Pokemon League competition in the Kanto region. The victim is none other than June, a 14-year-old girl from the Kanto region’s Gringey City, and their Electric-type Gym Leader. This is not Gary’s first incident with the Gym Leader, as only last year, June was also seen running away with Gary, originally reported as against her will, though this was later clarified to be a willing act by June herself, and rumors of grooming started spreading.”

“WHAT?!” Gary exploded at his phone. He recalled when he had been arrested in Celadon City after it was believed he had kidnapped June. Still glaring at the phone as the news kept going, he shook his head. I’m not leaving this town no matter what, he thought. I’m here to stay until June is better. I have to be there for her. But with all this controversy, it’ll be impossible for me to go anywhere without people trying to find me and question me. This is ridiculous! I need to be there for June!

The woman let out a breath and her lips tightened. “When we return, we’ll be replaying the video by Team Solace recruiting one Gary into their ranks-”

“This is it!!” Gary shouted out. What I’ve been waiting for!

“-day, experiments of the so-called ‘Pokemon Generating System’ on Bouffalant, the ‘unstoppable’ Pokemon, the-”

“Pokemon Generating System? The PGS?! Scientist Gary!” Gary exclaimed.

“-a man who has only fake memories of himself after his real memories were erased by a Beeheyem, and, a man who found the dead body of his wife in the bubble of his Araquanid due to jealousy from the Pokemon, after this.”

A commercial started playing, a light-brown dog with another coat of shaggy, dark-blue fur on top covered in mud and leaves running through a backyard on a rainy day. It ended up inside of a big house where it was greeted by a smiling, laughing woman who was kneeling and it began licking her face like crazy while dirtying her in seconds.

“Caring for Pokemon is hard-enough work, whether you’re a Trainer or not,” the blonde said to the screen while still chuckling. “Just giving a proper bath can be a headache.” She stood up and the dog got on its hind legs, putting its front paws on the woman’s stomach and sliding down, smearing her white shirt and blue jeans. “Herdier!” she laughed at it and rubbed its head. “That’s why I get all my grooming needs done at PokeSmart.” She looked down at the Pokemon excitedly. “Come on, let’s go!” Together, they ran out the house to where a silver minivan sat outside a closed garage and they got in, the Pokemon sitting on a white towel already laid on the back seat, and the lady drove off.

Now, they were inside a giant store with pet products like food and toys and Herdier was running to the arms of another kneeling pretty lady with black hair and a heartwarming smile. “Only at PokeSmart can you get even the rough hair of a Herdier groomed, which most stores do not offer,” the new woman spoke wearing an orange, collared shirt with a light-blue PokeSmart tag on it, her name shown to be Monica.

Gary removed himself from the video to think about what else he’d heard on the news. “So his work is finding more acceptance? Scientist Gary is making a point? Or will this all prove to be a failure?”

Moving from that thought, he went back to something else far more important. Team Solace. This is what I’ve been waiting for. What could this mean?? They’re openly calling to recruit me? Why me? Why specifically me?? Could it have to do with Isaac and what happened on that helicopter and in Canalave City? Fuck! What does this all mean? I’m in danger? Gary’s eyes shed a pair of frightened tears. They’re specifically targeting me now. He ran his fingers through his growing hair repeatedly, the feeling of it becoming kind of soothing for him.

Trying to relax his mind, he started thinking about June. June, he thought. What in the world...?

The ball hit June, pulling her inside of it with an orange beam of energy.

The ball hit the ground and rocked back and forth a few times before the middle button remained black and motionless with a PONG!

She was captured, but left behind. Somehow. How? Why? Prof. Cynthia was found looking like she came out of a slaughterhouse. Worse than that!

Gary closed his eyes and had to swallow down a wave of nausea remembering how earlier, he had actually dared to look up the images Ish had told him about. It took a while to find, as most images were blurred, but he eventually found what he wanted, and instantly regretted it, throwing up.

The woman wasn’t even recognizable as a human being. The remains from a massacre involving lions, tigers and Beartic. Raw, bloody ground beef was the only true comparison. It was a mix of skin, innards, blood, and other grotesque things. It was as if the woman had been put into a blender. Only thanks to DNA testing was her identity confirmed. It was the most disgusting thing Gary had ever seen. So disturbing he couldn’t be sure it was real, but he was convinced enough to not need a second look. Not even the death of his sister in front of his own eyes had been as horrifying.

But that only made him all the more confused as to how and why June had survived. She looked beaten half to death, but she wasn’t discombobulated like Prof. Cynthia. Thinking back on his nightmares, he remembered the horrors of seeing June being tortured, but he just shook his head. Those dreams didn’t mean anything. But - let’s just say they did. How do they help me here? He looked down at his phone and his eyes lit up. Huh? A Pokemon battle?

Inside of an extremely elaborate and fancy but also mostly dark building was a match between two Trainers. One guy had a Gardevoir, while the other guy had a Milotic. Both young guys were dressed in flamboyant outfits, like it was some kind of ball, white ruffles around their necks and wrists. The Milotic Trainer even had white feathers on his shoulders. The four were in the middle of the building, the only spot where the floor was white and lights shined upon them.

Noticeably, there was a literal dark cloud above only the battlers, inside the building and raining on the field! That has to be Rain Dance! Gary knew. But what is this battle for? This isn’t a normal battle at all.

In the darkness outside of the battlefield was the roaring audience that packed the seats that surrounded the battlers, the people and Pokemon there hard to see. Between the bleachers and the battlers sat three people behind their own individual, large rectangular stand. Their stands had a blank, dark screen on the front and a smaller one at the top. Gary only recognized Nurse Joy amongst them. A woman Gary didn’t recognize stood near them holding a microphone and wearing a smile as big and bright as her yellow-and-golden dress.

“Milotic! Recover!!” the boy with the feathers ordered, his arms spreading above him.

“Energy Ball! DO IT!” the other kid shouted angrily, punching out one fist.

Milotic cried out to the skies and its body glowed gold, healing itself.

Gary smiled, mesmerized by how beautiful Milotic looked. It was absolutely the most beautiful Pokemon in the world to Gary. Even without the glow of Recover, he always found Milotic to be one of the most stunning creatures ever.

Gardevoir was forming a Ball of light-green energy between its hands. When Milotic’s Recover was over, Gardevoir tossed the Ball at Milotic and landed the hit.

Milotic screamed out and slid along the ground under the falling rain. It remained still, and the rain stopped.

Hanging high above everything, an electronic board had changed what had previously been on it, now showing a mix of white and pink on the background with the word WINNER in big, thick black letters and the image of a dark-blue ribbon on the bottom left. The winning Trainer and Pokemon were displayed in the middle.

“And Celeste of Hoenn’s Littleroot Town wins this Contest, earning his third Ribbon! Congratulations to Celeste and Gardevoir!” a woman was heard from the video as Celeste and Gardevoir were shown waving to the cheering crowd.

The video on Gary’s phone now changed to show a standing woman with blue hair in a red dress smiling with lips in dark-red lipstick. “You’ve been watching a rebroadcast of the Pokemon Contest in Solaceon Town’s Solaceon Contest Hall last week,” she said.

Oh, it was just a Contest, Gary understood. I need to hear the news, and then I need to get back to Pokebay so I can contact my contact and tell him what I found. He looked from his phone and stared at the ground, ignoring whatever else was being said. But there’s more to do, too. Beedrill... Kingdra... I need to call Kiwi and-

“Now, we’ll be replaying the footage from yesterday morning from Team Solace and their recent attempts at reaching out to Gary for recruitment,” the blonde newswoman was back and speaking.

A new video then took over the screen. Ray was in it, sitting in a brown chair at a matching brown table, the room black with dim lighting. The man blended in well in a black suit, only the white tie standing out. He also wore a smug, cocky grin. His shoulders raised up in a shrug, his hands rising with them before it all came back down, his hands slapping the table lightly. “Well, well, well. Welcome back to the Team Solace show, with your host Ray! I dedicate this special episode to the memory of Isaac, our leader; our ruler!” Ray began to cackle. He cut it short and sneezed, turning from the screen and then sniffling as he turned back, keeping an easy smile. “Excuse me! Phew! Anyway, allow me to continue. It hasn’t been easy reaching the young boy known as Gary, and his last name is a mystery even to Team Solace, but we’ll obtain it soon enough, aha ha ha ha! But that’s not what’s important, or we’d have had it from the jump.” The video split in half, shared only with an image of none other than Gary!

Gary’s eyes widened, horrified at the picture of himself being displayed. At first, it was just the surprise of seeing himself there that was enough to make his heart stop, but after a minute, seeing how ugly he looked was bothering him. It was the image used at the Indigo League. He was smiling his crooked smile, his face looking uneven and disproportioned. At least, that was how Gary perceived himself.

“Just so there is no confusion, this is the boy we are looking for. Mister Gary, as it were, of Pallet Town, of the Kanto region,” Ray spoke, and the image of Gary was gone, Ray’s video returning back to normal size. “Mister Top Sixteen at the Indigo League. Let me make this clear for everyone; Mister Gary is currently no friend of Team Solace. And Mister Gary, you may indeed be against us at this time, and consider yourself an enemy of Team Solace, but that is what makes you all the more important to us. Join us, as a testament of the idol Trainer who can see our side in things. You, who have lost your sister, Melissa, to this monster who terrorizes our planet.”

Gary’s heart was gripped by an icy grasp at hearing his sister’s name, and he grabbed at his chest with one hand without even thinking.

“You, who have encountered this beast before, and luckily survived. We can put our forces together to stop her, Mister Gary. You know better than anyone else of the technology that Team Solace has at hand to handle this monster. Joined with you, this Pokemon can be destroyed and put to rest and revealed for exactly what she is. Be the guiding light, the prime example that once a Pokemon lover, does not mean you always are. Children, men, women, know that the doors at Hotel La Solace, are always open. Mister Gary, we will be reaching out. And if I don’t get to say this in time, have a Happy New Year, everyone.”

The video stopped and the blonde news reporter returned, looking sternly at the screen. “You heard it for yourselves, folks. Gary is a target to run Team Solace at this time.”

“HEY!!” Gary roared out. “THAT’S NOT WHAT HE SAID AT ALL!!”

“At this time, Gary is said to not be suspected of any wrongdoing by authorities, but Team Solace seems ready to make good on their promise to have the child be the new ruler of Team Solace.”

“THAT’S NOT EVEN-!!” Gary let out, enraged. “This is ridiculous! What kind of news station is this?!” He breathed in and out several times, trying to calm down and think straight.

“Here’s something to ponder: what if you were married to the woman of your dreams, had five kids who are all grown up and finished college and moved out, own a Dalmatian and a Labrador Retriever, paid off your house, and are enjoying the retirement life as a 79-year-old on a yacht, only to find out none of that is real and it’s just a big, fake memory implanted in your brain against your will? Sounds like the plot to some kind of sci-fi film? Well, it’s what actually happened to 28-year-old Peter Senova. The man was found at Windy Station, a train station in the Unova region. Apparently he’d been there for-”

More concerned about his own situation than the new news, Gary turned from the phone and started thinking. This is really bad. Really, really bad. I need to figure something out. I can’t leave, but I can’t find peace in this town right now. They know June is in the hospital and know I’m here waiting for her to recover, so they’ll never leave.

Letting out his breath in a big sigh, he rested the back of his head against the tree trunk. Fucking Team Solace really are some fucking manipulators, he thought angrily, dwelling on Ray mentioning his sister by name. Piece of shit. I really can’t trust a word they say. Everything is lies or truths used against you. Hypocrites.

“-Pokemon experts putting to the test just how ‘unstoppable’ a Bouffalant is!” the news was going on. “Or supposedly, at least, thanks to the latest by Scientist Gary and his Pokemon Generating System, or PGS for short.”

Gary’s full attention was on the playing video again.

In the middle of a huge, grassy field was a large group of people in white lab coats surrounding a huge buffalo-like creature. One of the men was petting it with a huge, open-mouthed smile, the Pokemon showing pleasure on its face with its own smile and closed eyes.

Amongst the group was Scientist Gary, also in a lab coat! The camera focused on his nervous face before changing to a video of Bouffalant all alone, charging through the plain.

“An unstoppable force once it charges, the latest experiments using the PGS are attempting to determine if this Pokemon’s previous stats can in fact be improved upon.”

The Bouffalant ended up slamming into a huge, brown setup that looked like a mattress standing against a wall. At the top of the setup was a small machine that had a black screen. Once Bouffalant hit the setup, the screen of the machine turned on, showing the number 10,000.

“This Bouffalant is said to have a Bold Nature, giving it good Defenses but a poor Attack stat, which Bouffalant excel in normally. A Bouffalant’s maximum Attack level is 110, but with a Bold Nature, it should never be able to reach that high. Scientist Gary is claiming to be able to surpass this limitation.”

The video now showed Scientist Gary alone, talking to the camera. He looked extremely uncomfortable. “Yeah, um, you know, I-I just want to make things easier for Pokemon Trainers everywhere. We have things like Vitamins that cost, like, an arm and a leg, and there’s Berries and things that affect stats, but it gets so confusing and there’s so many Pokemon with potential that get-” Scientist Gary paused on his words, looking to the sky for a bit. “Eeeeeeh... It’s just that some Pokemon... I just feel like all Pokemon are great, just as they are, but like, if you make, like, a mistake or something and raise the wrong stat and don’t know how to like, you know,” he breathed in and out, “fix it... You’re kind of... you know? You kind of get a chance with my work to resolve that issue. Not an issue, but like, you can make your Pokemon super stronger now, easier, and for a fair price. You know?”

He’s trying to watch his words, Gary realized. He’s nervous, but he’s also trying to make his invention more welcoming to everyone, like people who would take his words as a bad thing that he’s doing to Pokemon. Like how I saw him. Do I still feel that way? Do I still disagree with him?

Now Bouffalant was shown slamming into the side of a building that looked to be made of steel and leaving a tremendous dent in it.

The video returned to the blonde news reporter. “Scientist Gary was later asked about a rumor that his work may actually be changing the Natures of Pokemon to accomplish this feat, or if he is truly surpassing a Pokemon’s Nature limitations to make stats reach their maximum level. He was also asked if there were any side effects to what he is doing. It’s being reported that he seemed hesitant in answering that no side effects have ever been found in his work so far, and that everything is closely being monitored with the Pokemon involved. In response to the Nature-changing question, the Scientist said he had no comment at this time.”

Gary’s eyes widened. No comment? Scientist Gary wouldn’t say that... he thought. He’s a good, honest guy. Right? Changing Natures? That’s just crazy talk! But so is this entire PGS thing in general. I don’t feel good about any of this anymore. But what can I really do if this becomes something on the market? Just not use it?

Shaking his head, he stood up. I don’t need this on my mind right now. I need to take care of a lot of things right now. I need to tell my friend everything I’ve seen so far with this beast. These Poke Ball things. I need to call Kiwi back. Shit, my very name right now is being associated with crap I’m not a part of! Damn Team Solace! Especially with bitches like this on the news confusing the public! Why would she even say that?! Man, the media really is full of bullshit!

“And the third Gary of the day, Prof. Gary Oak, was seen with his girlfriend, Top Coordinator Zoey, apparently on vacation on a cruise encircling Castelia City in the Unova region.”

The video now showed none other than Prof. Gary Oak and a woman on a sailing ship. Prof. Gary Oak had on sunglasses and was frowning, holding out his hand, his mouth moving but the words unclear. He was wearing a purple shirt with yellow flowers all over it.

The woman with him had red-orange hair down to her neck and smaller sunglasses than her boyfriend. She wore a small, brown bikini top with yellow dots and a black necklace around her neck with a shiny gray crystal attached to it. She turned away, also holding out her hands.

Gary caught himself smiling while watching the video.

The blonde newswoman was back again. “Wedding rumors have been swirling around these two who have been dating for eight years, on record, although the rumors have been circling for at least ten. After constant denial, they finally, although reluctantly, came clean. But now the word is they may have gotten hitched!”

Gary rolled his eyes and shook his head, still smiling. Geez, let the two have their privacy. This is so like Gary. He and Zoey go together perfectly. They’re like siblings, which is kind of weird actually... But they’re just so much alike. Similar styles and everything. I’m so happy for Gary. My idol.

Gary could feel his eyes watering up suddenly. Sighing, he thought, I hope I can find someone special like that for me. I dunno if I can ever convince someone of my worth, if I even have an ounce of it. But I’m a good-enough guy, right? I just wish I could find that one girl who-

He thought back on his kiss with Cas, and then holding hands with Sierra...

Sighing out again, he blinked, and a pair of tears came out of his eyes. Fuck...

After cleaning more tears from his cheeks and eyes, he stared at a commercial with a delighted woman dressed in a white, long-sleeved shirt, white pants, and barefoot, twirling in a field of flowers with her arms wide. He didn’t know what the commercial was about and decided to go on Log-A-Graph. I should make a new post. Maybe one of those BS things that only last the day. Or maybe I should make a real post. His eyes widened. 201 messages?? From who?? Gary only rolled his eyes, instantly figuring out exactly who had to be the main culprit. Checking the messages section, he snickered. Of course, he knew.

Scientist Gary had sent him 199 messages!!

When he went back to see what the extra two alerts were, he was furious! His post on his one Badge had only gotten one extra Plusle! At first growling, Gary burst into a huge, echoing roar in the middle of the woods. “FFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!” Breathing out hard for a couple of minutes, Gary got sad. Shit. Here I go again, worrying about stupid shit. I need to think about the important things!

Yeah... Like, I need to post my four Badges and get more Plusles that way! Gary realized. Yeah! But wait, what was...? Gary remembered one notification was unaccounted for and sought it out.

Lebaron88: Yo, god job man! You can do this! I’m stil working on getting to the Victory Road to get my Garchomp LOL

Scientist Gary had not only been the new Plusle on his post and the 199 messages, but was also the final notification, a message on his Badge post.

So, he finally replied to it, Gary thought. So, I’m to blame. My impatience led to this. He replied when he was able to. He’s a scientist, after all. I’m sure he’s busy. Like working on that crazy PGS thing.

And yet, he’s sending me crap on Log-A-Graph all the damn time and never saw my Badge post after all this time?

He let out his breath, shaking his head. I’m taking this internet crap too serious. This social media thing is warping my brain. I never should have downloaded this damn, dumb app. He went on to click on the posts Scientist Gary had sent him. Gary knew he had to talk to the guy. After all, he had just seen him on the news. Starting from the newest messages, Gary was reading backwards what was sent as he scrolled up to the older stuff.

Lebaron88: My nigga all i can think of tis that you’ve seen her so many times and have been survived after all of this? Arey ou okay????

Lebaron88: I cant believe what im finally hearing back from you bro. She really was at the Foreign buiding!

Lebaron88: My nigga are you alive???? Yo no lie I’m legit worried about you right now!! Hit me up when y ouget the chance!

Lebaron88: I see you’re ok but damn bro wtf happened out hrte??????

Lebaron88: Bro I saw you on the news!!

Gary had gone through message after message, smiling at the genuine concern Scientist Gary was showing for him, but once the memes started, Gary’s eyes began rolling, and his mouth was sneering:

Me with my Italian best friend named Ziti after finding out his twin brother has gone missing after breaking his curfew two days ago.

A Black kid in the meme was rubbing his chin while squinting suspiciously at a White kid with wavy hair, the Italian smiling nervously.

The two kids were in a kitchen where a woman was smiling sinisterly next to a flaming oven.

After this was a meme of a humanoid version of the Pokemon Rattata, Weepinbell, Swanna, and another mean-looking monster Gary didn’t recognize, holding a struggling man down.

A humanoid Pikachu loomed over them all.

Planet of the Pokemon was the title of this fake film.

Four Squirtle were the main attraction of the next meme, all of them wearing a dirty, black bandana with eye holes. The main Squirtle was holding a sword in each hand, his eyes blue. The remaining Squirtle were behind him, one with orange eyes holding nunchucks, another with purple eyes holding a boa, and the last one with red eyes holding a pair of scythes.

In the background was a humanoid creature with tiny dark shades on that resembled some kind of boar, next to a humanoid Rhydon, both wearing human clothing and each one on either side of a Bisharp, the three of them transparent against a grungy city.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Squirtles! A massively popular franchise.

Gary4Mewtwo: Bro, I’m so sorry for making you worry bro. I’m goo! I’m not only alvie, but im well!

Gary4Mewtwo: you wouldnt believe all the shit I’ve been through. I can hardly process it myself. I’m still trying to work unt out.

While typing his next message, Gary saw that Scientist Gary was typing, so he stopped and waited for his friend with anxious anticipation.

Lebaron88: MY NIGGGAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

Lebaron88: BRO I WAS SO WRORRIED ABOUT HYOU!!!!!! YOU OKAY!!!!?????

Lebaron88: Bro I missed you so much man I was so scared!! I legit was hoping you was good!

Gary was beaming. The way Scientist Gary was talking reminded him of Ish. Could they be from the same region? he wondered.

Gary4Mewtwo: Yo im good! O’m good! I’ve been throug hough so much, tho!I’ll tell ya all about it! Even right now, I’m so busy! But I’m gonna let you in on all the shit I ‘ve seen, bro! Right now!

Gary smiled at his phone, seeing that Scientist Gary was typing. He couldn’t wait to see what would come of their conversation.

But he knew he wouldn’t bring up the weird dreams, premonitions, whatevers, that he was going through that seemed to involve the monster.

The thoughts in the Foreign Building.

The vision in Cas’ Powerzone Gym.

Not yet. They all had the exact same feeling to Gary. Were there other times like those?

Yes. Gary was sure of it, even if he couldn’t quite pinpoint them at that moment. He breathed out wearily.

All I know is, he told himself. At the end of the day. All of this madness has to come to an end. Team Solace. This monster. It all has to fucking stop already.

And it starts with her.

This monster has to be killed, no matter what it takes.

Somehow, she has to die!