My eyes opened and I witnessed the night sky above, spread out beyond what was humanly possible to witness. Stars twinkled high above, the moon destroying the competition with its bright glow. The waves from the sea splashed against the shore, rocking Captain Billy’s boat slightly as me, June, and Captain Billy himself, laid on the floor of it.

June and I were in separate sleeping bags while Captain Billy was curled up underneath an ocean blue blanket, his head resting on a sand brown pillow. I turned to look at Captain Billy when he made a grunt in his sleep, turning around quickly, having a dream.

My eyes wandered over to June in her sleeping bag, sleeping quietly. Wait a minute, I thought as my eyes blinked repeatedly. Where’s June?

June wasn’t in her sleeping bag as I had thought. She had been there when I fell asleep earlier, but not now.

I sat up and stretched my arms, groaning, and squinted at her empty sleeping bag. My left elbow cracked, but my right one didn’t, so I stretched it out again, even further, until I felt the painful crack and shook out my arm. I then stood up and looked around, wondering where June was. A very cold breeze blew around me and I wrapped my arms around my body, shivering. Even in my large, black winter coat and black beanie hat I was wearing, I felt chilled to the core.

Captain Billy continued to murmur and twitch in his sleep.

I gave him a long stare as I wondered what I should do, contemplating whether or not I should leave and see where June was, or maybe just walk around Cenumerus Island since, admittedly, I was now feeling pretty wide awake. Yawning, I turned towards the town nestled in the middle of the island we were on. Cenumerus Island, I thought to myself. Tomorrow morning, we’ll be headed for Nimbasa City.

June and I had decided to spend the night with Captain Billy instead of accepting the comfort of the Pokemon Center. We didn’t want Captain Billy, who had been so nice to us so far and very helpful, to be alone on the last night we’d be here. Plus, after getting to Nimbasa City, we’d have to say goodbye to Captain Billy and travel by foot again. This would be our last night together.

I twisted my body around a few times as I looked around, the boat moving gently underneath me, and I carefully stepped off of it. Where could June be? I turned back to Captain Billy, who was sound asleep, before looking at Cenumerus Island again. My feet moved forward before I had made the decision to move at all, and before long, I was walking along the strip of concrete between the two rows of buildings on either side of me, looking up at the sky.

Nobody was outside at this hour, whatever this late hour was exactly. It was sometime in the early morning, for sure.

I looked into the sets of trees that stood in between every building, leading into the forest. The woods were dark, whispering cold tales to me as the wind blew softly into them. My hands dug as deep as possible into my coat pockets as I lowered my head against the cold wind and closed my eyes. Nimbasa City, I told myself. Electric types. I can assume Excadrill will be my best bet against this Elesa woman. Cottonee won’t be bad, either. My body gave a strong shake in the midst of a sudden, powerful gust that pushed me back a few feet. My eyes opened and immediately watered as I squinted through the powerful air that I was forcing myself into, stepping forward at a slower pace until the wind calmed down to a more gentle flow, allowing me to walk easier.

June was nowhere in sight.

I was more curious as to where she was than actually worried about her. She was okay, wherever she was at the moment.

I was sure of it.

Taking me by surprise, a bright light appeared, shining at me from the woods in between two buildings I was walking by. I turned and squinted towards the white glare shining at me. “What is that?” I muttered as I stood still, frozen in place. The urge to solve this sudden mystery took over, and I walked into the tree filled area cautiously. Walking around trees, shrubs, and crunching dead leaves underneath my sneakers, I moved towards the huge, glaring light that shined so brightly, getting brighter with every step I took as I hunted after the source of this energy.

The light suddenly faded away and a cry rang out from the woods, accompanied by another one, and there was the sound of footsteps and movements through the trees that ended almost as soon as they had begun.

I moved as quietly as I could to locate the source of the commotion ahead, my heart beating with excitement, my head filled with curious thoughts and suspicion.

A voice cried out, sounding almost human, maybe.

“June?” I whispered, my feet moving faster now.

Another voice rang out from the trees.

By now, I was jogging quickly, snapping branches, crunching on top of leaves, my feet carrying me through the soft soil as I tried to be quiet, not wanting to scare off whatever was causing these sounds and creating the light I had seen, but wanting to get to it before it escaped.

A familiar noise called through the forest and then stopped a couple of seconds later.

I moved quickly, carefully, a little bit of fear mixed with slight excitement pumping through my body.

It was at that moment that I heard the sound of crunching leaves and heavy breathing.

I froze and listened, soon realizing that the sound was heading towards me! The noise got closer, and I stumbled backwards in fear, unsure of what direction the thing was coming towards me from, my heart now beating even quicker, harder, my eyes wide with fear. Uh, oh, I thought. I’m busted. I could now pinpoint exactly where the noise was coming from as I turned my head to the left and grabbed a Poke Ball from my waist, gripping it tightly.

The figure burst from the trees and stopped, staring at me in shock.

“June?”

“Gary!”

June and I cried out in unison and gaped at each other in shock.

“June!”

“Gary?”

“What are you doing out here?” I asked her, still stunned at finding her here.

“Me? What are you doing out here?”

“I was looking for a bright light that shined from out here and some weird cries.”

“What were you even doing away from Captain Billy?”

“I couldn’t sleep,” I said shortly, crossing my arms, staring suspiciously at June. “Now stop trying to flip the conversation around on me. What are you doing out here?”

June hesitated, staring at me uncomfortably. “I just came out for a walk through the island, and then I saw that strange light, too, and chased after it. I heard running and chased after the sound, thinking it was the source of the light, but it was only you.”

“Oh…” I said in a low voice. For some reason, I wasn’t entirely sure I believed her.

June walked past me quickly, and I followed after her. “It’s really late,” she said moodily. “I think we should get some sleep. Whatever it was that we saw out here is gone now.”

“Maybe we should keep looking,” I suggested. “Maybe it’s still out here, somewhere.”

“Then keep looking,” June said. “I’m going to bed. I’d like to get to Nimbasa City.”

“Elesa, right?” I called to her. “That’s the Gym Leader in Nimbasa City?”

“That’s right,” June nodded quickly. “The Gym Leader, and a world famous model. She’s easily the most beautiful woman on the planet, if you ask me, and one of the most astounding users of Electric types that I’ve ever seen. You won’t beat her easily, even with a type advantage.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I waved away. “Any Gym Leader can overcome their type disadvantages. Nothing new.”

“I can guarantee you won’t have an easy time against her, Gary,” June said, a hint of impatience in her voice.

“I hope I don’t,” I replied happily, chuckling lightly. “I like a challenge.”

“Just you wait and see!” June said angrily, stopping and turning to glare at me.

“Huh?” I said in surprise, looking at her angry face.

June turned and walked away even faster from me.

I didn’t follow her. I just stood there, staring after her in shock, confused by her sudden attitude.

*

“Well, young ones, this shall be our final ride together, eh?” Captain Billy said, staring out at the sea from his chair as his boat gently glided through the waters.

“Sadly, yes,” June said sadly. “It’s been so nice journeying with you. You’ve helped us out so much. You’re a genuine lifesaver.”

Captain Billy laughed loudly. “It’s been a true pleasure being with you both. I’m glad I could assist you both in your quest. It will be a sad farewell, trust me.”

“Thanks a lot, Captain Billy,” I added. “If not for you, I wouldn’t have even known about Cenumerus Island, or gotten my third badge by now. Me and June would probably still be stuck at the bottom of that cliff between the Desert Resort and Cenumerus Island.” I suddenly realized that that might not be entirely true. With the Psychic powers of my Elgyem and June’s Rotom, we probably would have made it to Cenumerus Island and then Nimbasa City just fine.

“Well, it was fate, Gary,” Captain Billy said cheerfully. “We were destined to meet. The tides don’t quit so long as they influence that which they change.”

What do these things mean? I wondered, staring at Captain Billy. He’s almost as bad as Prof. Oak with his poems… I thought of the professor, wondering how he was doing, and what he was doing. My thoughts soon focused on my mom and my eyes began to water a bit as worry filled my body. I missed Pallet Town, and yet, I knew I probably could never go back there. What happens after I finish up in the Unova League? I asked myself. Where do I go from there? What do I do? I hope my mom and Prof. Oak are alright. I hope Rotom and Porygon-Z didn’t hurt them too badly. Porygon-Z… Where did it go? My eyes dripped a couple of tears and I turned my head to the side of the boat, looking out at the water as my thoughts were filled with memories of Porygon-Z.

I had captured it after being sucked inside of a virtual world for the experiments of Pokemon Researcher, Peter, who was experimenting in Triple Battles with his three Pokemon, Porygon, Porygon2, and Porygon-Z. Having won my battle against them, I was allowed to capture one for myself. Porygon-Z had been a major headache since its capture, and well before then according to Peter, but it had always been a great battler and friend, despite its habit of screeching painfully, and the rare times when it would electrify people, sometimes aggressively, sometimes just as a means to tickle them.

And Charizard, I thought even more mournfully.

Charizard was the Starter I had chosen in Kanto when he was just a little Charmander. We had difficulty getting along at first, but over time, we learned to understand each other and battled together as one. During one battle where all seemed lost, he evolved into Charmeleon. We fought many battles, and during one of our most difficult Gym matches that we had lost twice at, Charmeleon evolved into Charizard and finally won, defeating a Tyranitar.

Now, both Charizard and Porygon-Z were both gone, stuck somewhere in Kanto. I wasn’t sure that they both were in Kanto, but it was definitely the last place I had seen them.

“Kind of funny. Today’s my birthday,” June mentioned, looking out at the waters, smiling.

“It is?” I said, taken by surprise.

“Ah! Of all the coincidences!” Captain Billy exclaimed cheerfully. “Happy Birthday to yah, June! How old might you be, then?”

“Sixteen!” June turned to him.

“Happy birthday, June,” I nodded, managing a small smile.

June turned to me. “Thanks, Gary!”

“Since this is our last day together, I suggest that once we get to Nimbasa City, I take you all out for drinks!” Captain Billy suggested loudly.

“Um, I’ll pass on that,” June laughed. “Just being in the company of you two guys is more than enough of a gift for me.”

Drinks, eh? I pondered. I’d been kind of curious about alcohol for a few years now.

“Then I’ll buy ya something at a store,” Captain Billy said with a warm smile. “Something nice. I’m still getting me a drink, though.” He laughed loudly, his voice booming.

Suddenly, something burst from the water, right next to me, with a loud cry, splashing me with a wave of water.

“Hey!” I shouted, closing my eyes, wiping at my face and choking out water from my nose and mouth.

A large, dark blue snake-like creature rose high into the air from the depths of the sea and then dove back down, raising up more water that splashed in my face.

I sputtered out water and backed up, my nose stinging from the water inside of it, giving me the horrible feeling of drowning.

“Just great,” I heard Captain Billy say in a voice that was nothing but frustration, which worried me greatly. “An Eelektross.”

Gasping for air, inhaling deeply, I turned to Captain Billy. “A what?”

June was looking where the creature had disappeared, but now was looking fearfully at Captain Billy.

“An Eelektross. One of the scourges of the sea around these parts,” Captain Billy told us in a cold voice. “We aren’t far from Nimbasa, but we sure are far enough away. With monsters like Eelektross in the way, this could be a lot more trouble than it needs to be.”

I looked out in the direction that the boat was headed and gasped as I saw, at a very far distance, land! I could see the silhouette of tall buildings. “Nimbasa City!” I called out, pointing. I also spotted an island that was much closer to us than Nimbasa City, covered in trees.

June turned and gasped. “It’s right there!”

“Yes, but that’s not going to be so easy a trip with this Eelektross,” Captain Billy said gravely.

Eelektross. The EleFish Pokemon. This is the evolved form of Eelectrik. Despite being an Electric type, this Pokemon is often found living underwater. After paralyzing its prey found on the shore, it drags them back down into the ocean.

“It’s pure Electric?” June cried, a shocked look on her face.

“What does it want with us??” I questioned Captain Billy frantically.

“It’s a very vicious Pokemon,” Captain Billy said in a low voice that gave me the shivers and thrashed any hope I had of getting out of this alive. “I don’t know what its problem it, but I know it’s very territorial. I don’t encounter it often, but today isn’t our day, I see.”

June and I exchanged fearful glances before I turned away to look out to sea.

The water rocked against the boat, a little water getting onto the floor of it.

Nimbasa City looked closer, but not close enough. A dark cloud was billowing from the top of the trees on the island that sat between where the motorboat was and Nimbasa City. Both places were very far apart, but I felt like we could at least reach the island. We had to be able to.

As my eyes focused on the island and the dark cloud floating up from it, ascending into the sky, the dark blue creature burst from the waters again, making the three of us scream out.

Eelektross cried out as it flew into the air, soared above and around the motorboat, and dived into the water on the other end, a large wave soaking the three of us.

“I don’t like this!” I yelled angrily, dripping in water. “What is that things problem?!”

“I wish I knew,” Captain Billy said seriously. “I haven’t solved this mystery, yet. The last time I tried, I nearly died. I don’t often need to come this way, but when I do, I usually don’t run into Eelektross.”

“Had you told us about that thing beforehand, we would have just skipped this place!” I was getting really upset as I shivered from the cold, wet water on me, the cold air blowing, making me even more cold.

“I suppose that’s true,” Captain Billy nodded solemnly. “I apologize.”

“No, it’s fine,” June said firmly. “Don’t be sorry for this. I don’t know why that Eelektross is being so hostile, but hopefully we can figure it out and get to Nimbasa safely.”

“Yeah, maybe,” I said nervously. “But what is that island up ahead?”

“That’s nothing but a small, uninhabited island,” Captain Billy informed me.

“But, it looks like there’s-” I started.

SMAAAAASSSSSHHHHH!!!!!!!

The boat the three of us were on exploded out of nowhere, and I recognized Eelektross as it burst out from underneath it, screaming out angrily.

The three of us screamed in terror as we were thrown through the air.

I inhaled my breath and held it, closing my eyes tight as I fell down into the water, hard. My breath immediately left my body as the cold water hit me, shocking me. Oh, no, I thought fearfully. My breath! The water was so cold, and I could feel myself sinking further down. Wait. Tympole! I grabbed Tympole’s Poke Ball and released it from my hand.

Tympole’s cry reached my ears through the water.

I was still sinking down fast. Save me, Tympole. Please, I begged. I need you. You’re the only one who can save me. My chest was hurting now, my lungs desperate for air. I can’t make it, I feared, my body panicking, and I could feel my arms tearing at the water, making a desperate attempt at swimming to reach the surface. My left hand slapped something, and I heard Tympole cry out. Tympole! I thought desperately, reaching out for him.

A circular object fit itself inside of my right hand, and I felt a weak force struggle to pull me up.

Hurry, Tympole, I thought frantically. You’re my only hope now.

Tympole pulled me as best as he could, struggling and groaning.

Come on, Tympole! I begged. I’m counting on you! I need you! We didn’t seem to be moving at all, just floating in the midst of the sea, and I feared we wouldn’t make it to the surface in time before I passed out. I could feel my body getting more urgent for air, but weaker on energy. This is it, I knew. My body was trying to inhale air, even though there was none to breathe. I did my best to resist inhaling, but I was struggling with the last bit of energy I had inside of me.

Something pushed against my stomach, shoving me upwards with great force.

I tightened my eyes and held onto the little bit of air I had within me, struggling not to gasp in shock as a new force was now pushing me upwards at a greater pace, with more speed and strength. I can’t do it anymore, I thought as my hand tightened around Tympole’s body. I can’t breathe. I need air! I opened my mouth against my will and took a large breath. Sweet air filled my nose, mouth, and lungs. I gasped even louder when I realized I was inhaling air, and took another deep gulp of air, coughing and choking out, swallowing the air. My breaths were strong, loud, and surprised. “Air!” I gasped in shock as I looked around me.

“Vaporeon, get us to that island, now!” I heard June shout from right next to me, making me turn to her.

“Vaporeon!” a light voice was heard. Before I could understand what was going on, something large and blue appeared in front of me, and I was being forced forward towards the island.

“Vaporeon?” I breathed heavily.

It was indeed a Vaporeon’s head that was underneath me, carrying me towards the island with the strange, black cloud rising from the trees.

June was right next to me, her head visible on the surface of the water, clinging onto Vaporeon’s body that was submerged underwater.

Tympole was on the other side of me, still in my hand, his tail flapping and splashing up water, doing his best with his tiny body to help us move faster.

I then noticed Captain Billy ahead of us, swimming like a professional athlete towards the island, his sailor’s cap gone, his short, wavy brown hair revealed.

“A Vaporeon?” I stared at the Pokemon in shock, and then I turned to June. “Where-?”

“I chose a Water Stone,” June said, her determined face staring out ahead of us.

“Huh? What do you mean?”

June didn’t reply.

“June?” I stared in confusion, and then it dawned on me. “June! Stone Town?”

June nodded, still not looking at me.

“You chose a Water Stone! You evolved your Eevee!”

“I’m sorry I lied to you, Gary,” June said as the water sprayed our faces every other second. “I evolved Eevee this morning. That light you saw must have been from her evolving. I just wasn’t ready to introduce her to you. It’s no excuse. I shouldn’t have lied, but, I just didn’t think you’d appear there all of a sudden and disrupt that very important moment. I’m sorry for lying to you.”

“I’m a bit surprised you’d lie to me like that, June,” I admitted.

June lowered her eyes.

“But, right now, I could care less,” I continued. “You saved my life!”

“I also lied to you when Frillish took you underwater,” June said, her voice shaking now. “I had emptied my bag to find my Water Stone so I could evolve Eevee so she could save you, but the Tympole got to you first.”

I didn’t say anything and looked ahead as the island got even closer.

“I’m sorry, Gary. I just got scared. I wasn’t even sure I wanted the Water Stone when I chose it.”

“Why did you choose it? You like Electric types.”

“Vaporeon is so elegant and beautiful. I like Jolteon, too, but I think Vaporeon may be the most beautiful Pokemon in the world, to me. Believe me, I thought about it. Even when I had the Water Stone, I wondered if I had made the right choice. But I know now that this was the right choice. Not only based on this situation, but, I just think Vaporeon is amazing!”

I smiled and nodded at June. “I do, too.”

“I’m so sorry. I really hate myself for lying. It’s such a relief to tell you, finally.”

“No. It’s okay, June. Just forget about it. Let’s just get out of this water and-”

A loud scream stopped my sentence and June and I turned to see Captain Billy waving his arms at us.

“What’s he doing? Is he okay?” I wondered out loud.

“What is he screaming?” June added.

I gasped. “Look!”

“Stay off of the island! Follow me!” I could just barely hear Captain Billy’s words, and I watched as he started to quickly swim away from the island, towards Nimbasa City.

“Oh, my goodness! Gary, LOOK!”

I grabbed Vaporeon’s body even tighter in my hands as I looked at what June was staring at and Captain Billy was warning us about.

“Vaporeon, follow Captain Billy!” June ordered.

“Tympole, keep us away from that island!” I instructed.

We were swerved away from the island as we got closer to it and our Pokemon followed Captain Billy.

Smoke was what was rising from the island, the trees all over it on fire, blazing strongly in the cold, winter air. Several strange, loud wails were coming from somewhere near the island.

“We have to call the police when we get to Nimbasa!” I exclaimed to June. “I can hear noises! There might be some Pokemon there in some serious trouble!”

“I can hear them!” June’s wide, fear filled eyes were glued to the island. “They need our help!”

“We can’t go there! It’s too dangerous! Nimbasa is right there. That whole island is on fire! Every single tree!”

“I know, but how can we just avoid the Pokemon who need us?” The look on June’s face made me question avoiding the island, but I knew we had to.

“June, we’re right there,” I said in a calm voice, hoping it would bring logic to her. “If it made sense to go there, I would go. You know I would. But we can’t. It’s-” My words were caught in my throat as I turned to stare at the island. I now knew where the loud cries were coming from, and my eyes widened until they hurt. “No… No! NO!”

The trees that were on fire weren’t all trees. In fact, I would say that a majority, if not all of the trees, weren’t trees at all, but were instead Pokemon! Pokemon that I instantly recognized.

Exeggutor! The island was filled with Exeggutor! They all seemed to be bound to the ground, sitting down, unable to escape or run or do much of anything, the top of their pineapple tree-resembling heads in flames. They all were screaming out in pain, struggling to escape, but unable to, the trees around them also burning. As we swam further away from the island, I could see a thick, black material wrapped around the middle of all of their bodies.

“They’re Exeggutor!!” June screamed shrilly.

“But, how?” I shouted. “Why?!”

June closed her eyes and looked away.

My eyes were glued to the poor Pokemon as they burned, the flames consuming their bodies as they screamed desperately for help. I didn’t look away as we were carried past them. How is this possible? I wondered with fear. What happened to them? Why are they like that?

The five of us continued forward through the water.

As the island shrunk further and further from view, smoke still filling the sky, I finally managed to turn away from the horrifying scene and I could see Nimbasa City more clearly.

A long dock sat right in front of the city, a humongous ship with brilliant lights surrounding it, rocking in the gentle waves. An enormous crowd of people, many on the ship, and many others standing on the dock but far away from the edge, all had their eyes focused near the very edge of the dock where a group of people were working on something. They stood near several boxes that contained items wrapped in what looked like aluminum foil. The crowd of people on the boat, and those standing on the dock, were chanting out something.

“What’s going on here?” I asked.

Captain Billy called out to the people who were working with the aluminum foil objects as several bright flashes of glittering light started to shine near them. The men all turned to Captain Billy and ran over, helping him out of the water. They seemed to be having a serious conversation. Captain Billy pointed off to the side where we had come from, and the men stared at the island in shock. He then ran over to June and I as Tympole and Vaporeon continued to carry us closer.

I finally began to comprehend what the crowd was cheering as the bright fire that was lit up near the aluminum foil objects started to make sense to me now.

“Ten, nine,” the crowd chanted.

“Gary, you hate the water. You go first,” June nodded.

“Alright.” I reached up and Captain Billy and a couple of the other guys he had talked to helped me out.

“Three,” the crowd continued to chant.

“You alright, kid?” one of the men asked me.

“I’m fine, but that island is on fire!!” I pointed at it.

“HAPPY NEW YEEEEEAAAARRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!” the crowd roared.

The fireworks blew up as the men and Captain Billy helped June out of the water.

I screamed from the loud noise of the explosions and covered my ears, nearly stumbling right back off the dock.

“I told them, Gary,” Captain Billy said as he placed a heavy hand on my shoulder.

The fireworks blew up continuously as the workers maneuvered Captain Billy, June, and I away from them.

The crowd’s attention was focused on the fireworks that lit up the sky in an array of different colors and designs in front of Nimbasa City, unaware of the smoke that was billowing from the island to the side.

I turned to June, whose tear filled eyes were already staring at me. “It’s… New Years,” she whispered.

I nodded silently.

Captain Billy crossed his arms. “Happy New Years…” He shook his head solemnly, looking up at the fireworks.

The workers were yelling at the people to get off of the dock, trying to get everyone to safety during such an uncertain situation, but with it being New Years, everyone’s main concern was celebrating, and the crowd ignored the workers’ orders as they cheered wildly.

June walked over to me and wrapped her arms around me, holding me tightly.

I held June closely as well as I silently gazed out at the island, smoke still billowing from the top of it. What caused this? I thought fearfully. When did this happen? Why?

These questions, and many more, filled my head as I heard the police sirens approaching.