My eyes were glued to someone.

That person stared back at me silently.

The wind suddenly blew hard, causing me to tighten my coat around me, digging my hands into my pockets and squint my watery eyes.

There wasn’t much more to be heard aside from leaves being forced along the ground and creaking tree branches.

We both stared at each other while the wind continued to howl.

When it ended quite a while later, there was nothing but silence to be heard.

Neither of us could find a word to say to each other.

At one point, I found myself wanting to say something I just couldn’t put into words, unsure of what it was I even desired to say.

The returned silence made me feel that the other was perhaps in the same predicament.

So we just stared at each other, not moving, the wind returning again, blowing a little more gently than before, lasting less time.

“Why are you here?” I asked, tired of the silence, tired of just standing here doing nothing.

Their lips parted, hesitating to speak. “Gary.”

“I know my name,” I snapped. “What are you doing here?”

Fear appeared in their eyes, along with regret.

Silence.

My patience was wearing thin. I kept my eyes straight ahead on a pair of eyes staring right back, only less harsh.

The eyes that stared back at me were much softer, caring, sad, concerned, fearful.

I couldn’t believe who I was staring at. Who knows how long it’s been. Why here? Why now? Why at all?

The wind began to blow again, harder, the howl disrupting the silence.

I stood my ground against the sudden, strong gust.

Grabbing the hood of the big, red winter coat and pulling it down further around their head, the individual huddled against the wind, closing their eyes. They remained in that position even after the wind stopped blowing, clearly afraid to look up at me.

I waited for the eyes to open.

They did. Very slowly, very carefully, very cautiously, as if there was some fear that I might be there to strike.

An impatient sigh came from me, and I stomped one foot down. “I don’t know why you’re here, but I have things to do. If you don’t have anything to say, I’m leaving. If you have something to say, get on with it already because I’m not gonna just be waiting here forever. What do you want?”

Although their mouth opened, no sound came out. After a swallow and a gentle clearing of the throat, communication was attempted once more, but no language was spoken.

My eyes glared colder as more time passed by.

The still soft but ever wary eyes closed and a deep breath was taken. Then another. Then another. The eyes opened again and I stared into them, waiting. A slow maneuvering of tongue over lips seemed to be preparation to speak. Another deep breath was taken. Another deep breath then occurred. Another followed behind that one. Dressed for the weather in tall red boots and tight white jeans, we continued to eye each other like cowboys do in Western movies before shooting the other one down. A large black duffel bag was slung over the shoulder.

My teeth grit as my fists tightened with anger. I’d waited long enough. “I have to go.” I turned to leave.

“Gary, wait!” the cry reached me, stopping me.

My heart jumped at the sound, and I turned around angrily. “Wait for what, June?” I shouted.

It was at her name, not my shout, that she backed up a step, seeming stunned somehow.

“What could you possibly want from me, huh?” I continued yelling. “I haven’t seen you in a long time! You abandon me after what happened in Saffron City, and now, out of nowhere, you’re just back? Who the hell do you think you are??”

June’s eyes watered and her lips quivered. “I’m sorry!” she cried out. She took a few quick, sharp breaths in. “I... I just wanted to say I’m sorry!” She then turned away, running.

I remained where I was, watching her for a short moment. I didn’t want her to leave. I actually did want to talk to her. And I didn’t want to end up back at the Safari Zone in order to do so.

She wasn’t fast enough to get far from me. Perhaps she didn’t really want to get away.

I grabbed her shoulder just seconds after I took off after her and turned her around.

“Let go of me!” she screamed. She pushed me away and ran again.

Both her shoulders were in my hands just a few seconds later and I whipped her around, breathing hard. “Stop it, June!”

“Get off of me!” she shouted angrily, squirming.

“You shut up and stop acting like a damn child, will you?” I tightened my hold. “What the hell are you doing out of Gringey City?”

“I left!” June whined, tears sliding down her cheeks as she stopped trying to break free.

“What? Why? Did you run away again?” I demanded.

“No! I left properly.” She couldn’t look at me as she spoke, choosing the ground as her eyes resting spot. “I even went to Vermillion City and explained everything to Lt. Surge. I told him I was quitting being a Gym Leader because I didn’t feel good enough. He tried to talk me out of it, and... gosh, it’s hard to resist anything that man says… But I stood my ground! He hugged me and wished me the best. I told everyone in Gringey City I was leaving and they tried to urge me to stay and remain a Gym Leader, but I refused. It took them a while, and some people are still against it, but they all support me nonetheless.” There was silence for a bit. “So I left.”

“For what reason?” I inquired.

June stared me deep in my eyes. “You.”

“Huh? What do you mean...?” I let go of her after realizing I was still holding tightly onto her.

June backed up a couple of steps away and stared at me. “You were arrested, Gary.”

I looked at her, squinting against the wind blowing in my face. “You saved my life there.”

“After phoning in to the police about your innocence, I couldn’t stop thinking about you,” June admitted, her voice shaking. “I felt like you were in constant danger. I was scared for you, Gary. You could’ve gone to jail for a very long time! Forever, even! After that, I couldn’t get you off of my mind, Gary. I wanted to be with you again, but… I’d abandoned you… I couldn’t just…” Her voice trailed off and she lowered her eyes again.

“Couldn’t just what?” I asked, getting angry now. “I’m not a baby. I can take care of myself. You’re not much older than me, June. You’re not my mother.”

June‘s eyes met mine, hurt evident in them. “I was just…”

I waited for her to finish her sentence.

“I just wanted to say I’m sorry, okay?” June covered her face with her hands and turned away from me, sobbing.

I was unsure of how to feel or what to say. All I knew was, I was hating hearing her cry. Taking a couple of steps forward, my hand rested on her shoulder.

She moved her shoulder, trying to shake me off.

I let go and walked in front of her, extending my arms and wrapping them around her loosely enough that she could have gotten away if she wished, but tightly enough to show that I cared.

June went silent. Shortly after her silence, she began to cry even harder and louder.

I hugged her even tighter hearing this. She huddled close against me and I pulled her in further, resting my chin on top of her head. June, I thought. June…

June pushed away from me, wiping her face. “I’m so sorry, Gary!” she wept openly. “I left you alone! I never should’ve done that to you! That killed me leaving you, and like such a coward at that! I hated having to do that! I just suck at goodbyes and that’s no excuse. Especially to do that to somebody like you. You saved my life in Saffron, Gary! We’ve been through a lot even before then! The moment we met was…” She stopped talking.

“June.”

She stared silently at me, her eyes glimmering with tears.

“I understand why you left,” I told her. I took off my backpack and set it on the ground, unzipping it. Digging around inside, I soon pulled out June’s letter and then zipped the bag close and slung it over one shoulder.

June stared in confusion at the folded up paper as it was held out to her. She slowly took it from me and opened it. Her mouth opened in shock as her lips silently mouthed her own written words. The paper fell from her hands and tears fell from her eyes as she looked at me. “I’m so sorry, Gary!” she squeaked. “You… kept that letter! I must have truly hurt you so badly! I thought you’d have just tossed it out!”

“Why would I do that, June? You had good reason to leave after what happened last time,” I shook my head. “I was crazy to keep going, and I guess I still am that I’m still going forward, considering everything that’s happened recently.”

June stared past me before looking back at me. “What did happen back there, Gary?” June asked. “I had trouble getting through to the Safari Zone trying to find you. I was so desperate trying to get to you. After freeing you from your arrest, I thought about it and wondered why you were back in Celadon again. So I decided that would be my first place to go and find you, but you were gone by the time I got there. I asked Vincent, the Gym Leader, but he hadn’t seen you since your battle against him. So, knowing the closest Gym was in Fuchsia City, I decided to give there a try. I wasn’t sure, but I had to do something! Right or wrong, I was desperate to find you! Ozne told me you’d left just the day before after defeating him and were on your way to Dark City, so I took the path through the Big P Pokemon Ranch, but it was blocked off by police! Something about an electric barrier?”

“Team Solace,” I explained grimly.

“Team Solace…?” June asked in confusion.

“They’re a terrorist group aimed at killing all Pokemon,” I informed her.

She gasped and covered her mouth, her eyes now wide. “Whaaat??”

“They think Pokemon are nothing but evil and want to wipe the entire species out. They’ll stop at nothing to fulfill their goal. They’ve purposely caused Pokemon like Electrode and Golem to use moves that cause them to explode, just to kill them and destroy buildings in some psychotic attempt to demonstrate how dangerous they are. They’re completely out of their minds and want the world to respect them and bow down to them for what they’re doing. They have to be stopped!”

“Electrode…” June mumbled, staring at me but not really seeming to be focused on me, her mind elsewhere.

“June?” It hit me then that she used to own an Electrode. Before I battled it and accidently caused it to explode.

June shook her head and then blinked at me, focusing again.

I looked away. “I’m sorry,” I muttered.

“For what?”

“You know… When we battled and…” I paused.

We both went quiet for a while.

“So they were behind it?” June asked quietly.

I looked up at her. “Huh?”

“Team Silence.”

“Solace?” My eyes widened with my raising eyebrows expectantly.

“Right, Solace.” June shook her head and lightly slapped the side of it.

I snickered.

June smiled back.

My smiled faded as I thought about Team Solace, looking up into the sky. “Team Solace set up some kind of powerful invisible electric barrier and then attacked areas of the Pokemon ranch, Pokemon Preservation, and the Safari Zone. I met the leader of the group, but he and his group escaped. I was just about ready to quit being a Pokemon Trainer.”

“What? Why?”

“Because it was getting way too dangerous, June!” I exclaimed, my voice rising. “You were right to leave! I should’ve stopped, too! I wished I were home and safe during the time Team Solace started attacking the areas I was in. I’m only ten!”

“So… you’ve quit…?” Disappointment was clear in her voice.

“No. After meeting the Team Solace leader, Isaac, I realized I can’t quit. I can’t allow people like that to spread fear everywhere and think they can just take control. I can’t let them scare me, and others like me, from our dreams and love of Pokemon. I won’t run anymore. I have to stay and fight. They have to know Pokemon are good. Those guys are the crazy ones. They’ve been behind all of the attacks in the news. The explosion at Mt. Coronet, Mt. Pyre, the Safari Zone in Hoenn, the electric surges in the waters of the Hoenn region, that’s all them!”

“Are you serious??” June screeched. “That’s been them?”

“You think I’d be kidding about that?” I asked sharply.

June’s mouth hung open. “I can’t believe it…”

“I’m crazy to keep traveling,” I added. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“Absolutely nothing,” June spoke strongly.

My eyes were trained on her as she continued.

“You are an amazing, strong person, Gary.” Her fear and weakness were gone from her face. June now was staring at me with inspired strength, confidence, and seriousness. “The question is, what’s wrong with me? Leaving you like that. I wanted to get closer to Pokemon and once things got crazy, I flaked out. You did the right thing. You did what anybody who truly wants to learn about Pokemon does. You did what anybody who truly loves Pokemon does. You stuck with it and remained dedicated. What we experienced in Saffron was the most craziest thing to have ever happened to me, but it was a learning experience nonetheless! I don’t regret it one bit. Even if we had died, I’m glad we tried to help out in some sort of way. Even though it looks like things are completely bonkers in the world now, what with Silph Co. out of action right now…”

“Yeah… But we did the right thing. People were just gonna keep on dying who entered that city or challenged that Gym. I’m not sure anybody could’ve escaped that Gym alive.”

June simply nodded. Her eyes were focusing hard on me. Before I could question her, she said, “You’re so brave.”

I looked away, unsure of what to say.

“I admire that a lot in you,” June continued. “Your bravery and your courage. Your dedication. You’re not crazy. You’re inspiring, if anything.”

It was hard to keep a serious face with all the compliments from her, my face heating up, and to keep from smiling, I sniffled and wiped at my nose, leering at the ground. “Well, thanks,” I spoke in a low voice. Maybe I wasn’t so crazy after all, I considered. Maybe I’m more sane in my crazy decisions than I think.

“Have you spoken to Kiwi?” June asked.

I looked up at her. “No. I don’t know where she is.”

“Oh my…” June replied. “How about your other friends? Robert? Aly?”

I laughed a little. “Aly’s doing okay…” I’m sure she wasn’t still in the zoo, I thought. No way. “Rob-in is… alright too, I suppose…”

June laughed loudly. “Robin, right! You sure don’t sound too confident that your friends are okay.” Her smile shrunk a bit.

I chuckled a little. “Aly’s fine. She just didn’t do too well against Ozne and decided to try her hand at a different Gym. Robin’s okay, too. Just…”

“Squirtle?” June asked.

“Yeah. He’s still having trouble with Catherine.”

“Catherine?” June asked.

“Mhm. Robin nicknamed all his Pokemon now. Squirtle is now Catherine.”

“Why Catherine?”

I hesitated as I thought back on what Robin had told me. “She’s... female, as you know... And Robin feels that a lot of her personality traits start with the letter ‘C.’ He says Squirtle’s very ‘caring’ and ‘concerned’ and whatever else he listed. So he nicknamed her Catherine.” I wasn’t able to look at June as I spoke about Catherine, not wanting to get into detail right now about why Squirtle was given her name.

“That was sweet of him,” June said softly.

I nodded.

“So… Catherine’s still a Squirtle?” June asked. “She hasn’t evolved?”

“Maybe. The last time I saw her, when I was in Celadon the second time, she was still a Squirtle.”

“Interesting…” June said in a low voice.

I nodded again.

June’s attention turned to me again, more seriously. She didn’t say anything.

I stared back. “June. Did you only come out here to apologize to me?” I asked.

June’s breathing was getting heavier, her breath visible in the cold air, billowing in front of her. “No,” she finally admitted. “As a matter of fact, Gary, no. I came here because…” She hesitated.

“June, come on now,” I said impatiently. “Just spit it out!”

“I want to travel with you again!” June burst out.

My eyes bulged out. “What?” Her words didn’t really surprise me, and yet, I somehow was surprised!

“Gary, I want to see the world with you some more!” June begged. “I have no right to ask of this, I know. But I still have so much to learn from you! I promise I won’t desert you like I did in Saffron again. Please, Gary. Please! I…”

I waited for her to finish her sentence.

“I… love, traveling with you,” June spoke carefully. “If you can forgive me, give me one more chance, Gary. But if you don’t want me, tell me. I can take it. I’ll go. Just, be honest, okay? That’s most important to me.” Her red hair wasn’t very visible under her hood, but a few strands were loose.

We stared at each other for what could have been fifteen minutes or so. Perhaps we were seeing who would blink first. Or even breathe first.

June suddenly smiled. “Thanks anyway, Gary. I appreciate the time we had together. Again, I’m sorry for ever leaving you. I understand your feelings towards me, though. I could never apologize enough to you for what I’ve done. Take care.” She finished her sentence and her mouth closed. It opened again, but she closed it and turned around swiftly, heading back to the Safari Zone.

I watched her walk away, considering saying something; considering calling out to her, but decided it’d be best if I didn’t. It hurt my heart watching her leave, especially without me saying so much as goodbye to her, but with a deep breath, I turned around and walked away, too.

My heart beat fast, hard, in my chest as I walked. I didn’t even know what to think to or of myself. I just kept walking.

To Dark City, I told myself.

My feet came to a stop and I stood frozen in place for a moment before turning around. “A three-on-three Pokemon battle!” I called out.

June was several feet away from me. She stopped and turned around. Even from our distance, I could see her face was soaked in tears. “Huh?” she asked in surprise.

“Deal?”

“For what?”

“We battled last time and you decided to join me afterwards, right?” I reminded her with a smile. “Let’s try it again.”

June gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. As her hands lowered, she smiled eagerly. “Oh, Gary!”

“Okay, let’s begin!” I threw my Poke Ball. “Baltoy, you start!”

“Baltooooooooy!” Baltoy sang out, spinning in place.

“Oh...” June’s eyes widened as she cocked her head and watched my Pokemon twirl. “How... adorable. A Baltoy.” She took a step back and smiled slightly, looking to me. “When did you catch this little cutie?”

“Remember our trip to Saffron? We were on that mountain and we got separated and ran into several Psychic type Pokemon.”

June shuddered. “I remember that.”

“Well, this is the Pokemon I captured there.”

“Hmmm,” June nodded at it, her smile fading slightly. “Right, well, let me see.” June dropped her long bag to the ground and dug around in it before standing up again. She threw the Poke Ball in her hand excitedly. “Gooooo!”

“Eeeeveeee!” an adorable little Pokemon said, smiling up at Baltoy.

Baltoy began immediately spinning circles around Eevee.

Eevee started looking dizzy.

June took a couple of steps back, keeping stern eyes on Baltoy.

“I never knew you had an Eevee, June.”

“Isn’t she just a doll?” June beamed at me quickly, returning to the two Pokemon, a nervous look coming over her face.

“Alright, let’s begin! June, you may have the first move.”

June nodded. “Eevee! Bite attack!”

“Veeee!” Eevee leaped at the spinning Baltoy and sunk her teeth into it.

“Toy Toy Toooooy!” Baltoy cried out.

“Rapid Spin!” I called.

“Toooooooooooy!” Baltoy sang, spinning rapidly in place.

“VEEEEEE!” Eevee screeched, clinging on for dear life by her teeth before being flung from Baltoy and right into a tree, headfirst. As Eevee bounced off the tree, Baltoy threw itself into the air and collided into Eevee, throwing Eevee right back into the tree again, headfirst!

Baltoy landed easily on the ground and slowed its spinning to a stop.

Eevee slid down the tree trunk and didn’t move.

“My baby!!” June ran to Eevee and picked her up. She ran her hand along Eevee’s fur back. “My poor baby, are you okay? You did well, sweetie. Come on back to your Poke Ball.” She kissed Eevee on the forehead and returned her. She stomped back over to her spot and glared at me. “So you wanna play rough, huh?” She dug into her bag furiously, searching for her next Poke Ball.

“June, I was only-” I started.

“Oh, no no no no no,” June interrupted. “I’ll give you a battle if that’s what you want!” June stood up, fire in her eyes. Despite it being very cold outside, June pulled off her hood and shook her head, her long, beautiful hair flowing about her face. She brushed it aside. In her right hand was a Poke Ball. Her furious stare went from me, to the Poke Ball.

I could’ve sworn a look of uncertainty was on her face for a moment.

She turned to me with a look of determination. “I choose you!”

The Poke Ball popped open and the Pokemon towered over Baltoy.

“ELECTIVIIIIIIIIRE!!!” it screamed, flexing its muscles.

“Whoa!” I pulled out my Pokedex.

Electivire. The Thunderbolt Pokemon and the evolved form of Electabuzz. This Pokemon is known to be very reckless both while attacking and even when taking damage from opponents. They tend to go in close to opponents and then strike with their tails, loosing over 20,000 volts of electricity.

“I didn’t even know Electabuzz evolved…” I muttered. “No matter. Electricity won’t help you here against my Ground type Pokemon.”

“Baltoooooooy!” Baltoy spun around Electivire.

“Virrrrrre…” Electivire growled, eyeing Baltoy. Electivire started to glow white, and with one swift hit, punched Baltoy, sending it flying into the air!

“Tooooooooooooy!!!” Baltoy screamed, flying high.

“Baltoy!” I watched my poor Pokemon in shock.

“Electivire!” June shouted at her Pokemon, her hands on her hips. “Baltoy was only saying hi to you! And I never said to use Strength attack!”

I couldn’t help but smile at June’s sentence. There’s her ability to read Pokemon, I remembered.

“Baaaaaaaaaaaaaal!” Baltoy was falling back down.

“Vire…” Electivire said in a low voice, watching Baltoy carefully.

“Electivire, stop it!” June ordered.

Electivire leaped after Baltoy, one fist glowing light blue. It pulled the fist back and swung hard at Baltoy.

On impact, Baltoy started to become coated in ice.

“It’s Ice Punch!” I realized.

“Baaaaaltoy!” Baltoy moaned.

“Lectivire!” Electivire said, landing on the ground.

Baltoy, a frozen block of ice, landed. The ice around it shattered, and Baltoy remained still.

“Electivire, that was horrible!” June barked.

“Vire Electivire!” Electivire was now talking to me, ignoring June, punching its fists together, seeming ready for another battle.

“That is enough!” June walked up behind Electivire. “This isn’t about you winning battles, Electivire! I get it, okay? You’re big bad Mr. Tough Electric Type. Congratulations! My gosh! You used to be so well behaved! If all I wanted was to win, I’d just let you do whatever you wanted! I want to win as a team! Does that word mean anything to you? Huh?? TEEEEEAM??”

“VIRE!” The balls on the end of Electivire’s antennae sparked with electricity before the sparks zapped backwards and hit June, who shrieked out.

When the attack ended, June collapsed.

I couldn’t believe what I just saw and gasped. “What do you think you’re doing, Electivire?” I snapped at him. “You can’t attack June like that!”

“VIRE! ELECTIVIRE!” Electivire responded.

What’s going on here? I wondered. June can read Pokemon. Why can’t she control her Electivire?

Electivire took a step towards me.

“Oh, yeah? You wanna battle?” I said bravely, despite my heart beating harder than it had been just a moment ago. “Fine! Primeape, come out!”

“Priiiiime Ape Ape Ape!” Primeape bounced in place eagerly. “PRRRRIIIIIME!” Primeape let out at Electivire.

“LECTIVIRE!” Electivire swung a sparking fist at Primeape suddenly.

Primeape cried out as the Thunder Punch hit, tossing him up towards me.

I caught Primeape, but the force threw me back a few feet, landing me on my back.

Primeape hopped up off of me and shook his head.

“Primeape, you okay?” I asked him, sitting up.

“APE APE!” Primeape nodded, and charged at Electivire.

“Thrash attack!” I commanded, getting up.

Primeape screeched and leaped into the air, pulling back a fist and swinging on Electivire, punching and kicking and knocking Electivire over.

Electivire’s tails reached out from behind him and wrapped around Primeape as Electivire continued to fall down. He used one of his massive hands to land on the ground, and then he pushed himself back up to his feet.

“Electivire!” June was sitting up, her hand on her head, watching in shock. Her red hair was now an afro from the Electric shock she took. “Gary, why are you battling this thing??”

“What else am I supposed to do?”

“VIIIIIRE!” Electivire’s body started glowing with yellow sparks and Primeape screamed as his body was zapped.

“Electivire, stop using Thunder!” June pleaded. “Gary, return your Primeape, please!”

“Why?” I took offense to her words. “We can-!”

Electivire flung Primeape at me, knocking me over again.

Primeape didn’t hop off of me this time.

“Primeape?” I struggled to sit up, Primeape sprawled out on my lap.

Primeape was beaten.

“Primeape!” I couldn’t believe he was handled so easily. “You did well, Primeape. Thank you!” I returned him to his Poke Ball and stood back up, grabbing my last Poke Ball.

“Gary, just stop it!” June insisted.

“This was a three-on-three battle, right? Then I’m going all the way.”

“But Gary, please, just listen to me! Please, just stop battling with him!”

“He isn’t invincible!” I was getting more and more upset the more June told me not to battle her Electivire. “I can beat this thing!”

“I know he isn’t invincible, Gary, but please, let’s not do this! Please!”

I ignored her. “Charmeleon, let’s do this!”

“CHAAAAAAAR!!!” Charmeleon fired a flame into the air, flexing his arms.

Charmeleon’s eager attitude inspired me and sent a fire through me, warming me up and encouraging me. “Charmeleon, let’s win this one! Flamethrower!”

“MEEEEEEELEOOOOOOOOOON!” Charmeleon used Flamethrower.

Electivire sat on the ground calmly and crossed his legs, his hands placed gently in his lap. He closed his eyes and let the fire consume him!

“What?!” I stared at the sight, trying to make sense of it.

“Gary, don’t!” June shakily climbed to her feet.

When the Flamethrower was over, Electivire continued to sit there patiently, eyes closed.

“What?? Is that thing saying we’re weak?! Charmeleon, show him some real strength! Fire Fang!!”

Charmeleon leaped onto Electivire, who remained motionless, and sunk his fire coated fangs into Electivire, the fire engulfing Electivire instantly. After a minute, Charmeleon let go of Electivire and growled.

The fire surrounding Electivire faded and Electivire remained in his position.

“Flame Burst!”

Charmeleon used Flame Burst, shooting streams of fire from his mouth which formed a ball and exploded, coating Electivire in flames.

Electivire remained as calm as ever.

“What is going on here?” I yelled in frustration.

“You don’t listen, do you, Gary?” June was shaking her head.

“What is Electivire doing?” I asked.

June merely sighed.

“Another Flamethrower! Don’t let up on it, either!”

“CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!!” Charmeleon let out what looked like the strongest Flamethrower attack I’d ever seen it do without the boost from Sunny Day.

Electivire was coated in the fire. He didn’t make a single noise. Not a scream, or a cry, or a whimper. He just sat there. “Tiiiiiiiivire!!!!!” I finally heard Electivire react.

“YES!” I cheered. “We’ve got him now, Charmeleon!”

When Charmeleon’s Flamethrower finally ended, Electivire was standing up and outlined in a very bright, white glow.

“Whoa! What happened to him?”

“Meditate, Gary,” June sighed.

“I don’t wanna meditate!” I waved off June. “I’m calm! I’m just asking what is wrong with your Pokemon! He’s glowing white!”

“The move is called Meditate, you idiot!” June sneered at me. “Electivire has maxed out his Attack stat because he was using Meditate all this time!”

“Really…?” was all I could manage to say in my stunned surprise.

“VIIIIRE!” Electivire ran at Charmeleon and socked him across the face with Thunder Punch.

“MEEEEEEEEEEL!” Charmeleon wailed out, slamming to the ground.

“Charmeleon!” I called helplessly.

Charmeleon struggled to push himself up. “Meeeel…” Charmeleon got up, visibly shocking Electivire, June, and myself as well. His tail flashed in a powerful blaze of fire in front of us. His body was outlined in a fiery red aura.

“Blaze ability!” My fists tightened, thrilled over this boost. “Let’s see your Electivire take this! Flamethrower, full force!”

“Chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrr!!!!” Charmeleon opened his jaws to use Flamethrower. “Meeeel…” Charmeleon collapsed to his face, the fiery aura fading away, Charmeleon’s tail flame dying down to normal.

I gasped.

June gasped.

Electivire punched his fists together eagerly.

All eyes were on Charmeleon.

I let out my breath shakily, feeling like I’d been holding it for an hour. “Return. And thank you,” I said, returning Charmeleon to his Poke Ball. I inhaled deeply before letting it out in a shaky sigh.

“Electivire!” Electivire cheered, the balls on his antennae sparking and his entire body glowing with electricity. The antennae started firing random jolts of electricity everywhere!

June and I cried out, jumping and dodging around the electric waves.

“You win, Electivire! The end!” June complained. “Return!”

Electivire was returned to his Poke Ball.

June and I collapsed to the ground in exhaustion, panting heavily.

“What is wrong with that thing?” I asked.

June didn’t reply. She just kept trying to catch her breath. After several minutes, June turned to me and smiled. “So, am I in?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah... Welcome back, June.”

June crawled over to me and hugged me.

“Okay, okay, June,” I said, gently pushing her away.

“Mean,” she said, gently punching my arm.

“He may not obey you, but at least he fights,” a voice said from nearby.

June and I turned quickly to see who it was.

“Robin!” June and I gasped at the same time.

Robin stared down at us, wearing a thick black coat with a hood over his head, his hands at his sides. His white sneakers looked fresh and new against what seemed to be a brand new pair of blue jeans. “What a surprise. Nice to see you again, June,” he said to her solemnly.

June stared at him silently, her face in awe, unsure of what to say. She finally nodded. “Hello, Robin!”

Robin turned to me, his eyes tightening. “You and me, Gary. One-on-one. Catherine versus something else in your party other than Charmeleon. I’m thinking maybe she’s just too close to your Charmeleon. Maybe it isn’t all about you after all. What do you say?”

No words would come to me.

I could only stare up wide eyed at Robin as my heart pumped away from within.

I smiled.

“Then let the battle begin!”