“Gary!”

My eyes shot open and I sat up in bed, squinting tiredly towards the door to my room. Yawning and stretching, I twisted my back and cracked it a couple of times from side to side.

The blinds on my window were closed, the sun trying to peek its way into my room.

Morning already, I thought, groaning. What’s with the wakeup call…? Oh! The sweet aroma of bacon and eggs had reached my nose. Breakfast! Yes! I climbed out of bed and kicked out my feet, getting the blood flowing throughout my body.

“Gaaaaaaryyyyyy!!”

I’m coming , I’m coming, I thought happily as I jogged in place with a big smile on my face. Time for some breakfast, and then I’ll head on over to Aly’s house and me, her, Robin, and Kiwi can watch some of our favorite cartoons, like Pokemon, Yo-Gi-Ah!, Billie Fong Adventures, The Loud Family, and Ronny Macho. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” I cheered excitedly as I burst from my room and took off down the stairs and into the kitchen.

“Well, there you are,” Melissa greeted me after swallowing a mouthful of food from the plate of bacon, eggs, and toast in front of her, remnants of ketchup smeared around it, a short glass of orange juice sitting by her plate. She was wearing blue pajama pants and a light blue, buttoned up pajama shirt, her feet in white socks. “Your food is probably cold, but if you don’t wanna eat it, I’ll gladly clean your plate for you.” She snickered as she struggled not to burst out laughing, a huge smile on her face.

“Pfft,” I responded. I took a seat next to her and inhaled the scent of my own plate of bacon and scrambled eggs topped with ketchup next to a pair of slices of buttered toast, happily. “Oh, man! This is gonna be awesome!” I grabbed my fork and scooped up the eggs into my mouth. I smiled as I chewed on the delicious food. “Dad, this is the best!” I cried out after swallowing.

“Thanks, boy,” my dad responded from the stove, his arms crossed over his chest as he smiled at me.

Behind him was a large plate on the counter next to the stove. The plate contained a tall stack of pancakes topped with a large chunk of melting butter, syrup running down the sides, two slices of toast and several strips of bacon next to them, while sunny side up eggs were frying on a large pan. Sitting next to the plate was a tall glass of orange juice.

I stabbed a piece of bacon with my fork and bit into the mostly crispy slice, and then I scooped more eggs into my open mouth.

“You little piggy. You’ll choke,” Melissa snickered. “Take your time, will you? Then again, I guess you’d die happy. Please, continue.”

I reached across to her and snatched her fork from her hand.

“Hey!” she exclaimed.

I flung it behind me and heard it clatter to the floor.

“You little…” she grumbled angrily, glaring at me.

I smiled as I kept my eyes on my plate of food, chewing quickly.

“Gary, you go and pick that up right away,” my dad instructed me sternly. His back was facing me and my sister as he cooked, holding the pan above the stovetop, but his head was turned around, his eyes narrowed at me.

I furrowed my eyebrows and continued eating.

“Do you understand me?” dad asked even more seriously.

I don’t understand nothing, I thought grumpily, but I swallowed the food in my mouth and sighed, getting out of my seat and walking over to pick up Melissa’s fork from the floor. I walked back to my chair and started to toss the dirty fork into her food.

“Gary, if you don’t bring that fork up to the sink right this second, I’ll embarrass you right in front of your sister!” dad told me angrily, setting the pan down on the stovetop and crossing his arms over his broad chest.

I sighed, my heart beating quickly. The last thing I wanted was to get a belt whipping from my dad, especially not first thing in the morning, but I especially didn’t want the embarrassment of getting my pants pulled down in front of my own sister! I got out of my chair and walked over to the sink, dropping the fork into it, and I grasped a clean fork from the dish rack.

“Excuse me?”

My dad’s strong voice stopped me. With an angry sigh, I placed the fork back and opened the drawer beneath it.

A set of utensils sat inside of the drawer, including a set of thick, black scissors me and my sister weren’t allowed to touch, and a large, metal screw.

I grabbed a fork and grumbled as I made my way back to my chair near Melissa and dropped the fork onto her plate with a sigh.

My sister picked up her fork and help it up in the air, staring at it in disgust. “Ew. Little brother germs,” she sneered.

Oh, go shove it, I thought to myself as I grabbed my small glass of orange juice and sipped from it quickly. Man, older sisters suck so bad.

Melissa scooped up a piece of bacon with her fork, but it fell right off as she raised the food to her mouth, so Melissa picked the bacon up with her hand and put it into her mouth. “So yummy!” Melissa beamed. “Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day!”

Crazy, I thought, shaking my head. Breakfast is cool, but dinner tops it by far!

“What?” Melissa demanded, turning to me.

I had a forkful of eggs ready to be eaten, but I turned to my sister. “What? I didn’t say anything!”

“I saw you shaking your head, Gary,” Melissa told me. “What do you have to say this time? You always have something to say, Gary.”

“Shoo, will you? If I had something to say, I’d have said it.” I shoved the fork in my mouth and began to chew on its contents.

“You always have an opinion on something. Spit it out, will ya?” she insisted.

“I don’t have anything to say! Just shut up!” I told her angrily.

“Hey, now, none of that,” dad said, scooping up eggs from the pan with a spatula and dropping them into his plate. “You speak politely to your older sister, you understand?”

“But-!” I tried.

“You heard dad,” Melissa smiled. “Be polite to me. Respect your elders.”

”Some elders don’t deserve respect,” I muttered as I drank from my glass of juice.

“What was that?” Melissa asked, smiling even wider. “I didn’t quite catch that.”

I said to take that fork and jam it through your eye, I answered silently. Then I’ll respect you. It’s too early to be dealing with your stupidity.

“Hmmmm?” Melissa inquired.

I shot her an angry look as I chewed.

My dad walked over to the table and set his plate of food and glass of juice down on the table. He took a seat and used his fork to scoop up a couple of eggs onto his toast, and he placed four slices of bacon on top of it. The bottle of ketchup on the kitchen table was snatched up quickly by my dad and he squeezed a light amount over the bacon and eggs on his toast, and then some more on the remaining slices of bacon and eggs on his plate before setting the bottle down. Another slice of toast was placed on top of the eggs, bacon, and the first slice of toast, and he grabbed it in his hands, swished it around in the syrup coating the bottom of the plate, and took an enormous bite into the sandwich. A huge smile crossed his face, displaying his enjoyment in his cooking. “Nothing quite like a good breakfast, huh?”

Melissa and I both nodded as we both took another bite from our food.

Dad let out a cheerful moan and stabbed at several pieces of cut up pancakes on his plate and forced them into his mouth with the still visible mixture of eggs, bacon, and toast on his tongue. He moaned with pleasure again as his teeth ripped apart his food. “Yeah! Breakfast time!” Grunting with delight for a moment, my dad finally swallowed his food and turned to my sister. “So, Melissa, how do you feel this morning?”

Melissa chewed her food a little faster and raised her glass of orange juice to her lips, downing it quickly. Taking in a gasp of air as she put her glass to the table, she said, “Not bad! Been thinking about where I should head off to, next.”

“Take your time with eating, okay?” dad instructed firmly. “There’s no rush to answer me. Eat carefully and slowly. Chew and swallow before speaking.”

Melissa smiled and nodded. “Sorry, dad. I’m really excited, though! After how well I did in the Johto League, and how far I’ve come on my journey, I just want to keep on improving!”

“Yeah, placing amongst the top ten was amazing, sweetheart,” dad beamed proudly. “You really did the family proud out there. You and Venusaur have truly become one in battle. The bond you two share is undeniable.”

“Thank you, daddy!” Melissa cried with delight, and she finished the last scoop of eggs on her plate.

“Yeah, finishing top ten is better than the top twenty position you did in Kanto,” I said, a smile creeping across my face.

Melissa had stood up, holding her dishes to bring them to the sink. She turned to me and glared. “Just remember that the only reason you beat me was because you had a Charizard that you only chose because I started my journey off with a Bulbasaur. You wanted a Squirtle originally. And right after you beat me, you ended up losing.” She walked over to the sink and rinsed off her plate and fork.

“Yeah, but who did I end up losing to? Huh?” I asked her. “Aly! Aly and her Venusaur. You have no excuse. And I beat Robin and his Blastoise before facing you.”

“Now, now, you two,” dad said, his mouth full of food. “Behave.”

“Gary started it,” Melissa said as she scrubbed her plate with a soapy sponge.

“I was congratulating you on doing better in Johto,” I shrugged. “Don’t get mad because I mentioned some other facts.”

“Nobody asked for them,” Melissa snapped.

“Nobody asked for you!” I shot back.

“What does that mean?” Melissa demanded, turning to me as she set her plate down in the sink.

“Take it how you want!”

“Tell me how to take it!”

“HEY!” dad shouted. “That is enough out of the two of you! This is meant to be a happy occasion! My two kids are back from their Pokemon journeys for a little while, and I have a little bit of time off from my job, as well. Why must you two always try to ruin these moments?”

I lowered my head, staring sadly at my eggs, remaining slices of bacon, and two slices of cooling toast. My dad’s words made me feel really bad.

“I’m sorry, daddy,” Melissa said softly.

“Yeah,” I agreed. “I feel bad.”

Dad sighed. “It’s alright, but, please. I have enough to deal with at my job. Seeing you two is pretty much one of my only pleasures. Let’s enjoy this time we have together before you two head off on your next region trips.”

“Are you having trouble at work lately, daddy?” Melissa asked as she continued scrubbing her plate.

“It gets hectic sometimes,” my dad sighed.

I chewed eagerly on a sandwich I made out of the bacon, eggs, and toast on my plate, staring at my dad as he spoke.

“Sometimes, there are great battles, and the Trainers are the kindest people in the world. Humble, appreciative, and respectful. But then there are the Trainers who want to accuse you of cheating, want rematch after rematch, and are just plain annoying.”

“Aww, I’m sorry, daddy,” Melissa said as she placed her fork in the dish rack and turned off the faucet.

“Just another day,” dad smiled at her, shrugging.

“Are you still pursing becoming the Pokemon Champion of Kanto?” I asked him, finishing my sandwich.

“I’m still working with my Pokemon before I try to advance my reputation any further,” Dad said, and he shoveled the last of the food on his plate into his mouth. He took a few seconds to chew before speaking again, his voice muffled by his food. “Once I defeat the other three members of the Elite Four, I may consider challenging the Champion, but right now, there’s much more work to do.”

“Dad, I can hardly hear you,” Melissa laughed, walking back to her seat. “Swallow before talking. Isn’t that what you just told me?”

Dad chewed quickly and swallowed his food, bursting out laughing. “Alright, alright. Point taken.” He waved his hand at her nonchalantly.

Melissa rolled her eyes as she sat down at the table.

“Anyway, I’m thinking me and Hitmonlee will spend the day doing some intense training,” he continued. “His Special Defense is looking in poor shape.”

“Don’t take too long training, dad,” I said with a smile as I finished my juice and jumped up eagerly to bring my dishes to the sink to wash them, full of excitement. “Melissa and I are coming for that Pokemon Champion title, too, you know. I got top four at the last competition I was in at the Sinnoh League. I might compete in the Kanto League again instead of traveling through a different region. If I win this time, I’m saving you for last, dad. I’ll beat the other three members of the Elite Four, and then you, and then I’ll be able to defeat the Champion.”

“You mean challenge the Champion,” Melissa told me.

“No, I mean defeat him, Melissa,” I scowled as I set my cleaned plate down in the dish rack and picked up my dirty fork. “I’m not competing to battle, I’m competing to win!”

“Daddy will be the Champion long before you defeat a League,” Melissa said, staring at me with a bored look.

“I’ll be retired before you defeat a League,” I replied.

“Retired or retarded,” Melissa responded.

“Probably both!”

“You’re already retarded!”

“And still competing better than you at the Pokemon League!”

“I’ll battle you right now!”

“Then, let’s go!”

“Fine!”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah!”

I released the sponge and cup in my hand into the sink as Melissa leaped up from the kitchen table and we both ran for the living room.

SMASH!! the cup broke in the sink.

“STOP!!”

Dad’s bellow made us both freeze at the stairs leading to our rooms. We both turned around and lowered our heads.

Melissa reached her hand up and brushed her shiny black hair from her face as it fell into her eyes.

Dad stood up and walked to the sink, the water still running in it, and he turned off the faucet. He then approached us.

Our heads down, me and my sister backed up a few feet as our intimidating father towered over us.

“A Pokemon battle sounds quite nice,” he said in gentle voice. “But for right now, how about we-?”

The phone rang, interrupting my dad.

We all turned to the living room and left the kitchen together, our eyes stopping on the large screen against the wall, next to the couch.

“I wonder who this is,” dad said.

“Probably Gary’s girlfriend,” Melissa muttered.

“I do not have a girlfriend!” I glared at her.

“She’s a nice girl,” my dad replied.

“She isn’t my girlfriend!” I cried, staring at him in shock.

“I’ll bet your allowance it’s her,” Melissa smiled mischievously.

My face heated up immediately as I stared at Melissa with wide eyes.

“You game?” she asked.

“Even if it is her, she isn’t my girlfriend!” I shouted.

“Gary! There you are! Where are you, you butt?”

I gasped and turned to the phone’s screen. “Aly!”

Aly glared out at me, her hair looking a mess, sitting in pink pajamas with a mix of different kinds of cats’ faces all over it. “Are you coming over or what? Pokemon is about to start!”

“Really? What?! I’m on my way!”

“Hurry up!” she cried frantically.

“Are Kiwi and Robin there, too?” I asked.

“Robin’s in Viridian with his parents, and Kiwi’s gotta visit her grandmother, so they can’t come over today,” Aly told me.

My face got even redder at the sound of Melissa’s snickering, but I didn’t look over at her.

“You’re still in your pajamas! You’re not even dressed!” Aly yelled. “Oh, just get over here, will you? It’ll have to be a pajama party, then. Gosh!”

“I’m gonna be, known as the best,” the theme song of Pokemon began.

“Oh my gosh it’s on Gary get over here now ‘kay bye!”

The screen went blank.

Silence filled the room.

I stared at Melissa from the corner of my eye.

Her face held a huge smile.

I turned to her, a nervous look on my face. “Okay, wait a minute.”

“You and Aly in your pajamas watching Saturday morning cartoons together, huh?” Melissa taunted me. “Daddy, is that not the cutest thing you’ve ever heard in your life?”

Dad chuckled. “Well, boy, you should never keep a lady waiting.”

“But… But… But…” I stammered.

“Daddy’s right,” Melissa nodded. “We really don’t like waiting around like that. I think you two are moving too fast, though. I mean, a pajama party already? Alone? Go get dressed, little guy.”

My dad laughed as I grumbled angrily, blushing hard, and stomped upstairs to my room.

*

“It wasn’t a date! I already told you this, you idiot,” I grumbled as I slouched at one end of the couch and crossed my arms.

“Hey, we don’t use that kind of language, here,” dad said firmly from his large, black chair.

It wasn’t even that bad of a word, I thought grumpily. “Sorry,” I mumbled.

“So what you’re saying is that you two haven’t kissed, yet?” Melissa continued from the other end of the couch.

“Melissa!” I shouted at her.

“Okay, Melissa. I think that’s about enough,” dad told her. “You haven’t let up on Gary since he got back home.”

“Alright,” Melissa smiled. “I mean, he’s only been home for an hour, so I don’t think I’ve been going in that hard on him, but I’ll stop if I must. Though, I must say, coming home at nine and breaking your curfew? I mean, something must have been going on.” She smiled at me, winking.

“Yes, Gary, that’s unacceptable,” dad said in a more serious tone. “You’re meant to be home by eight. I think your curfew is rather fair for your age, personally, and I expected that you’d be much more responsible in respecting it. I could cut it short a few hours if I need to, boy.”

“I told you, dad, Aly pulled a prank!” I cried. “She pushed the clock time back an hour on purpose. When I realized what she had done, I ran home as fast as possible!”

“Well, if that girl doesn’t like you, then just imagine how she treats the boys she actually has a crush on,” Melissa laughed.

“Melissa, dad said to leave me alone!” I yelled at her, and I turned to see my dad stifling laughter. “Dad!” I cried out, hurt.

He cleared his throat, his smile fading immediately, and he glared at my sister. “Melissa!”

“Okay, okay,” Melissa continued to laugh.

“How did training go?” I asked dad, lowering my eyes sadly to the floor, trying to change the subject.

“Not bad,” dad answered, though his voice didn’t sound too pleased. “There’s a lot of work to do, but we didn’t do too badly, I guess.”

“Any improvements?” I questioned.

“Not one, but his kicks are looking in prime shape,” my dad answered. “There might not be much more I can do for him. During our short break, I gave him his lunch, and then I stepped off towards the trees to take care of nature’s call, if you know what I mean.”

“TMI, dad,” Melissa groaned, covering her face with her palm, shaking her head.

I snickered.

“When I had returned, he was in my bag, digging up my snacks to eat,” my dad continued. “The Naughty thing.”

“Well, nothing wrong with a good offense, right?” I told my dad. “I mean, a better hit than what the opponent can deliver can be the deciding factor of a match, right?”

“How well each side can take a hit factors in just as much, right, daddy?” Melissa jumped in.

“Precisely,” dad nodded at her, smiling.

Melissa smiled at me smugly.

I stuck my tongue out at her.

“Fighting types don’t have too many weaknesses, but I’m really concerned about him, regardless,” my dad told us.

“Don’t Hitmonlee typically carry a lower Defense than a Special Defense, daddy?” Melissa inquired.

“Yes, and that’s the other problem,” dad replied. “I mean, there’s only but so much one can do to improve their Pokemon’s natural Stats, and I’ve tried a couple of them, but I’m just not seeing any results.”

“Why are you so worried about Hitmonlee?” I asked him. “I mean, why not use a different Pokemon?”

“Ha, well, Hitmonlee is my favorite Pokemon,” my dad smiled, looking up at the ceiling. “I’ve tried hard to obtain the very best Pokemon in the world and raise them to their strongest points. Since first becoming a Pokemon Trainer, I wanted the most powerful Pokemon out there. The most troublesome types to defeat and counter. The hardest hitters. But I also knew I would always have a Hitmonlee with me, no matter what. He isn’t the strongest Pokemon on my team, but he sure does come through. What’s more, he’s a good friend. I love my Hitmonlee and I want him to be a staple on my team, no matter what.”

“That’s really sweet, daddy,” Melissa smiled at him. “It’s even quite a bit inspiring.”

“Yeah,” I agreed, nodding.

“Well, tomorrow’s another day. Not to mention, in only five more days, I’ll be headed off again. What do you two plan on doing in that amount of time? Have you thought about it?”

“Yeah. Actually, I’m thinking of taking some time off from Pokemon training and taking a little vacation,” Melissa told dad. “I was thinking of spending some time in the Oblivia region.”

“Oblivia? Interesting choice. Just be careful. They don’t care for Pokemon being contained out there. Poke Balls are frowned upon over there, honey.”

“Really?” I was surprised to hear this.

“Yeah, I know.” Melissa turned to me. “I think that’s why it’s the place I’ll go to. I’ll just bring my Venusaur with me and leave the others with Prof. Oak.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Dad nodded his approval and then turned to me. “And what about you?”

“Well, I haven’t really fully decided, yet,” I told him slowly, lowering my eyes. “I didn’t really get the chance to think about it much today.”

“Well, you have a few days to think it over,” dad said.

“He was too busy thinking about Aly,” Melissa giggled.

“HA!” My dad cleared his throat and cut his laughter short as I looked up at him and squinted angrily. “Melissa! What did I say?” He turned to her sharply.

“Sorry.” She lowered her head, visibly smiling.

“As I said before, though, I’m probably thinking I’ll try and compete in Kanto again, maybe,” I said thoughtfully.

“Do Aly or your other friends know what they want to do next?” dad asked me.

“Aly’s definitely going to try and challenge the Elite Four once autumn arrives,” I informed him. “The last time I spoke to Kiwi, she was considering going to the Orange Archipelago. She said there’s some sort of Pokemon League out there, too.”

“Yes, the Orange League,” dad acknowledged. “Their League requires only four Badges in order to compete, but each of the four Gym Leaders put you through a different kind of test involving the relationship between the Trainer and their Pokemon, as opposed to just battling.”

“I don’t get it,” I said, squinting at my dad in confusion.

“Pokemon battling requires a bond between Pokemon and Trainer, but what they emphasize is how else that bond can be displayed,” my dad explained. “Oh! Before I forget, kids, I’m still trying to obtain that Growlithe for you two.”

“You’ve been after that thing for years, dad!” I laughed.

“Well, that Roar attack is no joke,” Dad chuckled. “Sends your Pokemon back to its Poke Ball, and then Growlithe just runs off!”

“You’ll catch it next time, daddy,” Melissa said encouragingly. “Don’t give up. I believe in you.”

“Yeah, dad! Next time we all come home, I bet you’ll have a Growlithe with you,” I chimed in.

“It’s funny how a member of the Elite Four is having trouble capturing his kids a Growlithe,” Dad sighed, smiling.

“It must be really high leveled!” I noted. “That just means when you finally do get it, it’ll be that much more special. And it must be special if its the same one that keeps coming back!”

“Don’t worry about it. Just do your best,” Melissa said to our father. “That’s all I can ask for.”

“As long as you two promise to take care of it, share it, and not fight over it,” my dad said sternly. “If you two can promise to do that and show a little responsibility and maturity for a change, I’ll even make sure I find a second one so you both can have one for yourselves.”

Melissa squealed with delight.

“Yes!” I cheered.

We faced each other and nodded before turning back to our dad.

“We’ll take care of it for sure, dad!” I assured him.

“Yeah!” Melissa nodded quickly.

“And no fighting over who gets to keep the first one if I catch a second one,” dad warned.

“Sure thing,” I told him.

Melissa nodded again.

Dad sighed and slouched in his chair, lowering his head. “This makes me think of your mother…”

Melissa and I turned to each other and looked down sadly.

“Poor woman hated dogs, and a lot of animals, really.” Dad shook his head sadly. “Wasn’t much more that she hated more than Pokemon, though. She’d have never let us have a Pokemon running around the house.”

I hated when dad talked about mom. I knew it brought him so much pain, and Melissa and I always ended up in our own silent tears as he reflected on her.

Dad sighed. “The Pokemon were never allowed in the house. She never really paid any attention to them and rarely acknowledged their presence, but she cared, somewhere deep down inside. You two remember when my Rapidash was sick a few years back and Mom came out and gave her a bowl of water after she had thrown up in the front yard?” Dad laughed lightly.

I nodded silently, remembering that summer.

Melissa sniffled and wiped at her nose as she nodded.

“Boy, she sure was mad about that, but she cared enough to try and help her out a little bit.” Dad wiped at his eyes and took a deep breath. “I miss that woman. May she rest in peace. She was a good soul.”

My eyes closed as I thought of my mother. She had passed away exactly two years before Melissa had left on her very first Pokemon journey; three years before I had departed on mine.

A loud BANG made me jump and turn to the front door.

Melissa cried out, staring at the open door.

“Whoa!” my dad shouted in shock, straightening up in his chair.

A girl stared in at us from the open door, her eyes frantic, flying around the room. They stopped on me and widened, a smile crossing her face, and then they turned to Melissa, and she gasped as her eyes widened even further, her smile fading, replaced with an open mouth of shock. The girl then turned to my dad and squinted at him for a moment before looking back to me. “Gary!”

I stared back at her in surprise, stunned that she knew my name.

This strange girl that had just broken into my house was wearing red jeans, matching red sneakers, and a yellow T-shirt. A large, black bag hung from her right shoulder. Her startlingly red hair matched the rest of the red she was wearing.

Who is she? I wondered. She's pretty, but what's going on here?

“Gary, listen to me! Please! It's me, June!”

Who? I questioned, squinting at her. June? I racked my brain, trying to remember anyone I'd ever known named June. “Who are you?” I asked her slowly.

“Gary!” the girl gasped in shock. “You have to come with me! Please!”

Melissa let out a screech and leaped from the couch. She charged at the girl and tackled her to the ground.

The girl who said her name was June, screamed in fear as she struggled to get from underneath my sister.

Melissa wrapped her hands around June’s throat and squeezed.

June immediately started choking, gasping for air.

“GO AWAY!!” Melissa shrieked as she shook June by her neck, slamming her head into the floor. “You're not needed here! You're ruining everything! You're obsolete! DIIIIIIIEEE!!!”

June grabbed Melissa's wrists and struggled to inhale air into her lungs. Her eyes were bulging grotesquely, looking as if they might actually pop at any given moment.

I wanted to close my eyes, afraid of seeing something so disgusting, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the fight.

June's eyes turned to me, tears rolling down them nonstop. “Gary...” she croaked.

Melissa let out a furious shout and tightened her grip on the girl's throat. She slammed June's head into the floor even harder, repeatedly, crying out angrily with each slam. “You're... Not... Needed!!” Melissa growled.

June's fingers dug into Melissa's, struggling to create some space between them and her throat as her face flushed purple.

“Every... Thing's... Perfect!!”

June's eyes rolled up into the back of her head and her fingers slowly loosened from Melissa's hands. Blood was staining the area of the floor where June's head was repeatedly being beaten into.

Tears streamed down Melissa's cheeks as she continued slamming the girl's head. “One... last... day,” Melissa gasped, releasing June's throat. The only thing that could be heard now was Melissa's heavy breathing as she glared down at June's motionless body. Melissa swallowed hard and let out her breath noisily as she continued to keep her eyes on the stranger, her chest heaving.

“Well done, Melissa,” my dad finally spoke up. “How about you take this girl into the kitchen and leave her there? We can bag her up later and throw her out with the rest of the trash heap tomorrow.”

“Okay, daddy,” Melissa turned to our father, nodding. She stared back down at June with disgust before strongly slapping her across the face several times.

June's head turned to the side as she was hit, but other than that, she didn't move.

When Melissa was done smacking her around, and June didn’t budge, my sister slowly climbed to her feet. She turned to me with a solemn glare. Her head then turned to my dad, and she began to smile a little bit as she nodded.

My dad nodded back firmly.

Melissa then grabbed June by her wrists and grunted and groaned as she pulled on June, dragging her into the kitchen.

I stood up quickly, staring down at the floor as a trail of blood smeared on it from the back of June’s leaking head. “Wait!”

Melissa stopped tugging on June, looking up at me.

“Let me help you,” I offered. “We can lift her together.”

Melissa smiled and nodded quickly. “Thanks, little guy.”

I smiled back. “Anything for my big sister.” I walked over to her and stared into her light blue eyes, her thin lips returning my loving smile with one of her own. I bent over and reached down to grab June's ankles.

“You wanna mess with me? Okay,” a low voice said angrily, making Melissa and I gasp as she released June’s wrists, our dad gasping along with us, and we all turned to the sound of the voice.

“Whoa!” I yelled, not believing my eyes.

Melissa growled at the girl standing by the entry to the kitchen.

My dad shook his head, glaring at an unbelievable sight.

“You wanna play games? Okay.” June stood in the entry to the kitchen, glaring at us with a Poke Ball in her hand. “I'll play with you. Come on!”

I looked down and saw the dead, bleeding body of June, and I turned to Melissa, who was glaring at June's body between us before she looked up at me, and then she turned to the living June.

“Okay. You wanna play rough?” the new June snarled, and she pressed the button in the middle of her Poke Ball and enlarged it. “Okay! Say hello to my little friend!” The new June tossed her Poke Ball towards us and it popped open, sending out a roaring Pokemon.

“ELECTIVIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRE!!” the furious Pokemon screamed, flexing its muscles.

“Electivire, use your Psychic attack, now!” The new June pointed her finger at me and Melissa.

“Who is this girl?” I screamed angrily. “What's going on here?”

“Go away!!” Melissa screamed at her.

Electivire didn’t move, looking around at me, my sister, and my dad.

My dad got to his feet. “I think I've had just about enough of this.” My dad pulled out his shiny, silver revolver from his pocket and pointed it at June.

“Electivire!” the living June gasped, staring at the barrel pointed at her. “You have to use Psychic! Beeheyem is your opponent! Its hiding! The only way to flush it out is with your Psychic attack!!” She turned to me with a determined face. “Gary, this isn't real! It's time to wake up!”

“Huh?” My eyes bulged in shock as a memory hit me.

“I'm out of here.” Robin mumbled things and angrily stormed away, shaking his head, staring at his Squirtle's Poke Ball.

“My name is June. I’m the Gym Leader of Gringey City,” June introduced herself. “It's a pleasure to meet you.” She smiled brightly and brushed her red hair out of her face and extended her hand to me.

I shook her hand a little too long, deep down not wanting to let go, and when I noticed this, I pulled my hand back a little too sharply.

She noticed this and laughed. “I'll escort you to the Pokemon Center and we can talk more as they heal your Pokemon.”

“Okay...”

“June?” I cried, my heart beating painfully.

“Vire?” Electivire turned his head to his Trainer as she ducked down.

My dad lowered his gun, aiming at June.

The living June screamed.

“TIVIIIIIIRE!!!” Electivire shouted as his eyes flashed blue, sending a beam of energy at Melissa and I.

“HEY!” my dad raged as he turned to us.

Melissa and I screamed as we dropped, dodging the attack.

My sister had fallen flat to the ground.

I crashed to my knees and turned to watch as the Psychic move soared over our heads and towards the open front door. A dream? I thought in fear.

The attack hit a design on the door that resembled a poorly drawn open window.

A bright light flashed from the door and blinded me.

Melissa screamed. “GARYYYYYY!!!”

My dad screamed in fury.

The June who had sent out Electivire cried out shrilly.

Electivire roared.

I covered my eyes and screamed.

BANG! The sound of my dad’s gun went off.

The light was so bright, I was blinded by it with my eyes closed. A few moments later, the light faded away, and I lowered my hands.

I was now in the middle of the woods. It was dark out, crickets chirping around me, no other sound to be heard. A full moon sat brightly in the sky, lighting up the area beautifully, stars twinkling around it, adding to the glory of it.

Courtney stood staring at me with wide eyes, her mouth hanging open, not moving a muscle.

June was on her knees next to her, hugging herself, shivering hard, watching me.

Electivire was looking around eagerly, growling.

“June!” I managed to call out to her.

“Gary?” she replied fearfully, still shaking.

“June!” I scrambled on my hands and knees to her without thinking and wrapped my arms around her, hugging her tightly. I wasn't sure why, but tears trailed from my eyes, down my cheeks. Despite how confused I felt by the tears, I didn't let go of June, and I didn't stop crying, feeling for some reason that this reaction was the right reaction to something that had just occurred, but I didn't know exactly what. All I knew was that June was here and I couldn't have been happier.

“Gary!” June pulled me into a hug. “Gary, you're back!”

“Back?” I asked her, not letting go of her. “June, I'm so glad you're here right now. I don't know why, but I really, really need you right now.” It was strange for me to say a thing like that to June, but the level of honesty behind it made me not feel the slightest regret for my choice of words.

“Oh, Gary!” June sobbed. “You're really back with me?”

A loud voice startled June, me, Courtney, and Electivire and we all turned.

Floating above us in the air was a weird creature that kind of resembled an alien. It reminded me of my Elgyem in a way.

“Vire...” Electivire growled, and his body sparked dangerously.

“There he is,” June muttered. “Beheeyem.”

“Beheeyem?” I repeated.

“That's the Pokemon that's been screwing around with your reality, Gary,” June told me strongly.

“My reality?” I turned to her swiftly. “What do you mean?”

June didn't take her eyes off of the Pokemon, glaring at him. “Gary, what do you remember?”

“I-” My mouth hung open as a flood of thoughts suddenly flushed into my head.

Melissa, my dad, and I, eating breakfast.

Melissa, my dad, and I, in the living room, reflecting on my late mother.

Melissa strangling June to death.

Obtaining my Starter Pokemon, Charmander, from Prof. Oak.

Trading my Beedrill with Drock for her Seadra that was holding a Dragon Scale.

Reaching my hand out to touch my Butterfree's face when she was sad because my phobia of Bugs preventing me from touching her easily.

Kadabra slugging a defeated Haunter repeatedly with Psycho Cut.

Isaac falling into Snorlax's open mouth, screaming on his way down.

Obtaining my eighth Badge from Tera in Viridian City about two years ago.

Charizard furiously flying through the stadium in the Pokemon League after his loss to Robin’s Blastoise named Catherine, shooting flames into the crowd as they ran away in a panic.

My mom yelling at me on the phone about losing Melissa after I had found her in Unova after three years of her being gone.

Prof. Oak informing me that Kiwi had been kidnapped.

Charizard having gone missing.

Team Solace's return.

My eyes were flowing water like facets as I gazed in horror at Beheeyem.

The Pokemon didn't say a word.

“I remember,” I whispered as I stared at Beheeyem's blurry form through my teary eyes. “I remember everything. I remember… No… No! It doesn't make sense! I don't understand!! What's going on??!!” I grabbed my head and closed my eyes as my memories swirled in my head.

I had been defeated by Manuel at the Sinnoh League, coming in fourth place.

Arnold’s Metagross used Hammer Arm on Robin's Blastoise, Catherine, to smash her through the ground and defeat Robin at the Kanto League.

I'd met a real Mewtwo and battled it, and it had defeated all of my Pokemon swiftly before flying away, but I wasn't mad, only honored to have had the chance to meet the Pokemon of my dreams, and inspired to face it again someday.

Aly's Venusaur used Solar Beam on my Charizard as he flew through the air, low on health, and made him spiral rapidly to the ground, costing me my match at the Kanto League.

BOOM!

Aly gasped loudly and then collapsed to the ground on her side from the gunshot to her back.

I dropped to my knees and cried. “I don't understand what's going on!! Help me!! I can't breathe!! I can't… H-h-h-help meeeeeeeeeee!!!” My fingers dug into my face as I cried and screamed, my head feeling as if it were cracking open. Something wrapped around me and held me tight. I leaned against who I knew had to be June and wept.

“Gary, this is going to take some time,” June told me. “This is all going to take a little bit of time, but everything is going to be okay. I promise.” She rocked me gently in her arms as I cried loudly. “It's alright.”

“What's going on, June? Tell me!” I begged loudly. “Please! Mom's dead!! Dad's dead!! Melissa's dead!! Aly's dead!! YOU’RE DEAD!! June, help me, please!!!” I wrapped my arms around her and sobbed heavily on her shoulder. “Everybody's dead!”

“Sshh,” June whispered, rubbing my back. “I'm right here. I'm alive. Let it all out, Gary. We'll get through this.”

“I need help,” I gasped weakly. “I can't breathe! I can't think. I'm losing it!”

“You'll differentiate between the illusions, soon,” June said soothingly. “It was all just a filthy trick by this Beheeyem. Your mom is still alive.”

I looked up slowly, blinking my vision clear from the tears in them. “Illusion…?”

June stared back at me sadly, and she nodded her head.

I turned away from her and stared up weakly at the floating creature. “By… That thing?” I croaked weakly.

“He created an illusory world around us while putting us to sleep,” June explained. “He wiped your memory clear and input new memories. Courtney and I were stuck in a bizarre forest in that dream world, but I found the way out by listening to the voice of that Beheeyem. I could hear his voice through the wind, all around me. I came to the realization that we were in a dream world of some kind, and by using a strong, Psychic attack at a certain target, as long as we all were aware it was a dream, we could break out of there!”

Beheeyem silently floated above us, watching creepily.

“It seems that he gave you back your proper memory, but you still have retained the memories of what happened in the dream,” June added.

“But, why?” I shouted angrily, pushing away from June as I got to my feet and faced Beheeyem. “Why would you do that in the first place? Why would you put me in a dream world like that?! Why would you erase my memory like that and make me believe everything was okay?! Why would you take away my mom?” My body trembled as my voice lowered weakly. “Why would you make me think I had my sister…? And my dad…?” My eyes began to overflow almost immediately as I began to cry again. “Why would dare do that to me...?” I whimpered.

Beheeyem stared at me quietly.

“Answer me!!!” I screamed at him shrilly, closing my hands into angry, shaking fists. “I want an answer, Beheeyem!! Tell me!! You don't just do things like that to people!! It isn't right! What is wrong with you?! Why…?” My words in my throat wouldn't continue to come out, and I fell weakly to my knees, my quivering legs no longer able to hold me up.

Beheeyem kept his eyes on me, but he didn't speak.

I covered my face with my hands and cried painfully, my heart abusing my chest as it pounded against it hard. Why…? I thought painfully to myself.

“Beheeyem,” the Psychic Pokemon finally spoke.

I gasped and looked up at him. “Huh?”

Beheeyem’s hands were in the air, three dots on each one, one green, another yellow, and the last one red, like my Elgyem. The dots were blinking rapidly in no visible order or pattern. “Beheeyem,” he said, his eyes on me. “Yem. Beheeyem, Behee, Beheeyem. Heeyem Beheeeeeeeeeeyem!” Beheeyem continued to speak to me as I kept my eyes on him, wishing I could understand what he was saying. “Beheeyem Yem Yem Beheeyem!” He stared at me as he finished speaking. He kept his hands up though the lights on them had stopped blinking.

The only sound to be heard now was a sudden wind that blew against us before it faded away, returning us to silence.

I turned to June, and my heart beat even faster and harder at the look on her face.

She was staring up at Beheeyem in shock, her eyes squinted slightly in what was either disbelief or confusion.

“June! Tell me!” I begged. “Please! What is it? I need to know!”

June slowly looked down to me, but she didn't speak. She swallowed and her bottom lip began to quiver.

“Tell me, June!” I shouted at her. “I need an answer!”

June slowly nodded. “Beheeyem said that you deserved to see them.”

I didn't know how to react to her words, so I shook my head slowly at her. “What?” I breathed heavily. “What??”

June swallowed again before speaking. “He said you deserved to see them both. Your father, and your sister. He said, you needed to have this. To see her as she truly is, and was, again.”

I shook my head again and turned to Beheeyem. “What are you talking about? What does that mean? What do you know about my sister?” I got to my feet again as a sudden flare of fury filled my body, making my fists tighten at my sides and my eyebrows furrow furiously. “What do you know about her? Answer me, you damn thing! What do you know?!!”

Beheeyem didn't reply, but simply hovered above me, watching calmly.

“Have you seen her?” I whispered, and I cleared my throat. “Have you seen my sister?!” I shouted at him, my body trembling in shock. “HAVE YOU SEEN MY SISTER?!” My fists began to shake and tighten at my sides as I took a step towards Beheeyem.

“Beheeyem, Yem,” the alien creature spoke, and his hands lowered at his sides as his body started to glow in multiple colors. Light blue, vertical lines surrounded his body, and he disappeared.

“Wait!” My eyes widened, my mouth dropping. “Wait!” I ran to where Beheeyem had just been and spun around in a circle. “Beeheyem! Beheeyeeeeemm!” I spun around again. “NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! BEHEEYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEM!!!!!!!!”

June was looking through the air, trying to spot the Pokemon.

Courtney wore a look of confusion and fear on her face as she glanced around for Beheeyem with us.

My shoulders slumped in defeat as I trembled on the spot. I wrapped my arms around my shoulders and looked at the dirt ground in exhaustion.

“Unwary smile…” June whispered, her voice quivering.

I slowly turned to face her. “What did you just say...?” I whispered to her weakly.

June's emotional, watering eyes were on me. “Beheeyem... He said... ‘Sh-she’s received... her unwary smile...’”

“Her… unwary smile?” I repeated slowly in a low voice. “She... received her unwary smile? What... What is that? What does that even mean??”

June didn't answer me for a while.

I waited for her to talk.

It was a couple of long minutes before, in a low voice, June finally, shakily, answered me: “I don’t know…” June slowly shrugged her shoulders. “Sometimes, it can be hard for me to interpret exactly what a Pokemon is trying to say. There can be different dialects from Pokemon to Pokemon, or even from place to place. But, that’s what I’m sure I understood out of him before he used Teleport… ‘She’s received her unwary smile.’” She shook her head at me sadly. “I'm so sorry, Gary. That’s all I got.”

“But…” My eyes began to water up desperately, uncontrollably. “I don't understand what that means...” I whimpered, and I fell helplessly to my knees. My eyelids closed tightly as hot tears easily burned their way through them.