Her unwary smile… I reflected. She’s received her unwary smile… She’s received her unwary smile...

June and Courtney were both out of sight, walking behind me, their feet crunching on the grass underneath them as we all walked through the thick forest, our path lined on both sides by a never ending row of dark green shrubs that nearly reached up to my knees.

She’s received her unwary smile, I told myself.

Melissa’s smile had been plastered in my mind ever since June had told me Beheeyem’s bizarre sentence some time ago. Melissa’s thin lips spreading across her face in a soft smile. Her lips opening apart to reveal her teeth, sharing the same small gap in between her two front teeth that everyone on my mother’s side of the family had.

My sister’s received her unwary smile… I repeated in my head. My sister received her unwary smile? What is an unwary smile? An unaware smile... What does that mean? How do you receive an unwary smile? From who? Or… what? Why? What does it mean? It doesn’t make any sense! What was that Pokemon talking about?

June, Courtney, and I had been traveling through a strange setting of constant trees, shrubs, bushes, flowers, and grass for a while, the exact amount of time unknown. Since our encounter with Beheeyem, the atmosphere between the three of us had been pretty heavy and thick.

After Beheeyem had uttered his final sentence to us and teleported away, the only sound that remained was that of the crickets in the surrounding darkness of the night and the wind whistling through the grass.

Courtney insisted on understanding what had just happened. She said that she and June had been in a forest in the dream that Beheeyem had put us in, and that June had claimed to sense a voice in the air. A voice that Courtney could not hear. She followed June through the trees, June saying that the voice was in the direction she was leading Courtney in, and they found themselves in Pallet Town, where my house was. They had peeked in through the window and saw me with my dad and sister, and then June had instructed Courtney to stay outside. June then kicked open the door and caused a commotion. A little while after that, a bright light had blinded Courtney, and she awoke with us in the woods.

June and I didn’t answer Courtney’s demands for an explanation of what had occurred.

I certainly didn’t have one, and at the time, I didn’t feel much like talking.

None of us had any idea where we were. Neither Courtney, nor June, nor I, could find the location on the map since we didn’t know what to look for. We weren’t anywhere near the last place we remembered being; Twist Mountain. We were simply in the middle of the woods for no given reason.

I hadn’t been paying attention to how many days had passed, and I hadn’t been getting too much sleep, either, but it felt like it had been at least a couple of days since we had decided to try and make our way out of the woods and into the closest town as quickly as possible.

June looked over to me every time Courtney demanded an explanation about what had happened in the dream.

I thought I was made of tougher stuff and I ignored Courtney, sure that I would outlast her persistence. After a few hours, Courtney was still bugging us, and I could tell that she was on to me and was testing how long I could endure. Another hour of her questions swirling in my mind, ruining the quiet I was in need of to think about what had occurred, and I had finally lost it on her. I stormed over to her and screamed in her face. I told her everything. I told her I had lost my dad, and my sister had been missing for years, only to have been found in Unova by me and June only a couple of weeks or so ago, and then she ran off and I had lost her once again. I told her what had occurred in the dream for me. How I had seen my dad and sister and didn’t think twice about it. I shouted at her that I had believed that it was normal for them to be alive, and that my mother being dead was what I had believed to be true. I yelled that I had no recollection of June, even when I had seen her, up until the last moment before Electivire had freed us with his Psychic attack, and once awake, the mix of memories from both the dream and reality had left me confused and was still driving me crazy, and right now, I needed her to shut up so I could think and straighten out everything in my head!

Courtney’s face had gone rather pale as she stared at me in shock, and she hadn’t spoken a single word since.

I now found myself questioning reality itself. Was I awake right now? Was I dreaming? Was I really a thirteen year old kid who had escaped his house with the help of a Rotom who had taken over the fridge, a loony Porygon-Z, and on the back of a Charizard? Had I really survived an explosion over two years ago at close range from a bomb thanks to it being inside of a Snorlax? Was my dad really dead? Did I really find my lost sister after over three years? The more questions I thought up, the more absurd all of this seemed. Maybe my entire life wasn’t what I had thought it was. Did I even truly exist? Would I know if I didn’t?

“Gary?” a voice spoke so low that I couldn’t even tell who it belonged to.

I didn’t respond and continued walking, my eyes trained to the ground, glaring. I had been silently crying for a long time since we had begun trying to find our way out of the woods, and by now, I was sure I was out of tears.

A hand gently grabbed my shoulder.

My glare went away as I looked up at Courtney.

“Hey,” she smiled at me. Admittedly, despite all that was on my mind right now, I found Courtney beautiful with her blonde hair messy around her face. She reached up and brushed it out of the way of her glasses that added another layer of cuteness to her face. “I’m really sorry that I pried into your personal business like that. I had no idea.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I mumbled, looking away.

“Hold on,” Courtney said, grabbing my other shoulder, stopping me from walking any further. “I owe you, too.”

“Owe me?” I squinted at her in confusion.

“Yeah,” she nodded seriously. “Gary, you’re not alone. I know how it feels to lose family. I lost my mom about a month ago.”

I stared into Courtney’s eyes. “I’m so sorry, Courtney.”

She swallowed and nodded as she began to sniffle and lowered her head. “My mom was like, my very best friend. We were so close. She was my role model. My hero.” She looked up at me, tears falling from her glimmering eyes sitting behind her glasses. “And my brother died only a few weeks ago, about a week after our mom. It was so much to bear.” She let out a cry and wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug.

I hugged her back tightly, tears filling up my own eyes as they widened in shock at her sudden hug. I now felt even more depressed than ever before, but at the same time, in a weird way, knowing this about her actually made me feel a little bit better about what had occurred with Beheeyem. I felt a little less alone.

Courtney’s head rubbed against my chest as I pulled her in even closer to me, not wanting to let go of her.

I rubbed the back of her backpack. “I’m so sorry, Courtney,” I whispered to her.

Courtney looked up at me, still crying, and she shook her head. “My dad also passed away, Gary. Only a week ago.”

I stared at her in shock. “What? No… Courtney…”

“No, don’t,” Courtney said quickly, shaking her head hard. “I don’t care about that. He’s a terrible person and I’m glad he’s dead.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” I squinted at her now.

Courtney sniffled and released me from her hold, backing away, causing me to drop my arms. She wiped at her runny nose. “I found out a bit about him before he died. He confessed to me that he had cheated on my mom and got another woman pregnant. I have a stepsister who I’ve never met. She’s about my age, too.”

“Oh,” I whispered sadly. “That’s sad, Courtney. I’m sorry to hear that, but don’t hate him for it. I know it’s hard, but-”

“He wasn’t even sorry about it, Gary!” Courtney cried angrily. “He didn’t care! I can’t forgive that. You can’t ask me to!”

I stayed silent. This wasn’t the type of thing for me to argue over. I didn’t even feel comfortable hearing about it.

Courtney had made up her mind about something very personal, and that was for her to live with. I was stepping out of bounds by trying to change her mind. “I’m glad he’s dead,” Courtney said bitterly, glaring at the ground. “Screw him! I don’t want to own any of his inheritance, either. I decided that my stepsister should get everything. The cars, the money, and the house. I want no part in it. The five hundred thousand dollars, his three fancy BMWs, the house I grew up in with him, my mom, and my brother… I want no ownership in any of it. I just don’t care!”

My eyes widened. Damn, that’s a lot of stuff, I thought, shocked at Courtney’s attitude towards the inheritance. She’s so hurt right now. Once she relaxes a bit, she might regret giving that all to her stepsister.

“And, once my journey in Unova is over, I’ve planned on meeting my stepsister,” Courtney told me. “I feel like we have quite a lot to talk about together. A lot of wounds to heal.” She smiled as she lifted her glasses to wipe at her eyes. “She lives in Hoenn, too. We’ll meet for the first time, and I’ll bet it will be a truly memorable time in our lives. Afterwards, I intend to visit the Sinnoh region and maybe compete out there.”

I smiled back. “Courtney, you’re so strong. I think it’s really noble of you to give all of that to your stepsister like that. That’s really sweet. And brave.”

“Thanks, Gary.” Courtney looked at me with a tender smile as she adjusted her glasses.

“I… like your glasses,” I said shyly, looking solemnly towards the ground.

“You do?” she gasped, raising a hand to each side of her glasses. “Really?”

“They’re cute,” I nodded, feeling my face growing hot.

“Awww!” She closed her eyes and looked down, her face flushing red.

“Ahem!”

Courtney and I turned to see June glaring at us both, her face red.

“Excuse me, but are we going to try and find our way out of here, or what?” she snapped, and she angrily stomped past us.

“Oh, please, June,” Courtney called after her. “I’m not here to take your boyfriend! I already have my boyfriend, Andrew, waiting in the Hoenn region in Petalburg City for me!” She sighed happily and her eyes lowered. “I can’t wait to see him again. He’s the sweetest person on the planet!”

My heart’s beat picked up its pace at the mention of her boyfriend. “Um, she isn’t my girlfriend,” I told Courtney, and I turned and watched June disappear down a turn in the path. I started to follow her.

Courtney reached out a hand and placed it against my chest, stopping me. “You’re still not with June? Are you kidding me?”

“No…” I answered slowly, my heart beating faster.

“What about that cute little Asian girl with the bow? I know you didn’t pass up on her, right?” She cocked her head at me.

“Umm…” I muttered, lowering my head.

“Gary!” She shoved me back lightly with a smile.

“She has a boyfriend!” I told her.

“Before or after she was with you and June?” she asked.

“Um, well...” I started, desperately wanting to get off of this topic. My eyes shot through the forest nervously, desperately trying to think up a different subject. “Where is June going?”

June was nowhere in sight, and I could no longer hear her footsteps ahead of us.

“Who cares...?” Courtney muttered under her breath, looking off to the side.

“June! Wait up!” I ran away from Courtney and made the turn June had made. “June!”

She was completely gone.

The woods were empty and silent except for the sound of Courtney's footsteps as she walked quickly after me. She stopped next to me and looked around. “Well, I guess she ditched us,” Courtney said calmly.

“What? No way!” I turned to her swiftly.

“Well, do you see her?” Courtney asked with a teasing smile.

I slowly turned in a complete circle, trying to spot any movement or hear any sounds from June. “JUUUUUUUNE!!” My voice echoed in the woods, fading away within seconds, but no reply was returned. “Where did she go? Why would she just leave like that?”

“Because she's jealous,” Courtney answered simply.

“Jealous of what?” I turned to her.

Courtney crossed her arms as she squinted impatiently at me. “Me, obviously. Come on, we both know me and her don't get along very well. She hates me. She sees you and I talking and getting friendly with each other after all we've been through, feuding and stuff, and she wants nothing to do with it.”

“You think she's still holding a grudge against you for what occurred back in Kanto?”

“Maybe, but it's more than that, Gary,” Courtney sighed with exasperation. “Geez, I haven't seen you in years, but if anything has remained the same with you after all this time, it's the fact that you've still got the redhead accompanying you, ever loyal, ever faithful. Doesn't that mean anything to you, Gary?”

I looked away from her and walked deeper into the woods. “Not really,” I muttered, frowning.

“Gary, will you stop being so damn naive?” she demanded, following me. “How was June acting when you were with that little Asian cutie? Or that other long haired brunette I saw you with when we were in... um... Vaneteck City? Was she all temperamental around them, too?”

“No, she wasn't at all,” I said angrily, refusing to look at Courtney. “She enjoyed their company just fine.”

“Oh,” Courtney said, a hint of surprise in her voice. “Well, that goes to show that it really is just me. I think she either didn't find them a threat, or she was satisfied with the idea of you being with them. I think anyone would've found the Asian girl a threat, although the brunette was a doll, too.” She grabbed my shoulder to stop me from walking. “Don't you see, Gary? She was okay with those two girls, but she doesn't approve of you and I being in-”

I pulled my shoulder away from her and glared at her. “Okay, look. I don't know where you're trying to go with this, but after all we've been through with that damn Beheeyem, I am really not in the mood for this kind of topic right now. And I really want to find June, okay?” I angrily walked away from her, my heart beating rapidly in a mix of emotions.

Courtney's footsteps followed after me shortly after I had moved away from her. “Gary, I actually think that now is the best time to discuss this!” she called out. “We really don't even need to find June! She made up her mind! She's gone!”

I didn't want to lose my cool with Courtney. I didn’t have the energy to, but the desire was definitely there. I just wasn't in the mood for all of this crap right now. Inhaling quickly, I ran through the woods, making the grass, the shrubs, and the trees, all blend around me in a blur of different shades of green with brown. The sound of Courtney's pace picking up and nearing me inspired me to run even faster. I turned a curve in the path and ran down the grassy walkway. Why would June just leave me with Courtney like this? I wondered with a mix of anger and worry. Where could she have possibly gone? The last thing I need right now is to be filled with so many upsetting thoughts and emotions, and be without one of my closest friends in the world right now. That last thought took even me by surprise as I continued to run, but I knew it was true. I turned another corner and ran down a grassy path without shrubs on each side of me, but the trees seemed even denser here, and I had to squeeze through some of the trunks and jump over roots sticking up from the ground. The path was a bit trickier to get around, but my skinny frame and youthful energy made it easy to maneuver.

Courtney was crying out from behind me as she tried to keep up with me, tripping over branches on the ground and trying to squeeze through the trees as well as I was, but she wasn’t as athletic and daring as I was, and she was unable to keep up and was getting slowed down.

I kept on running, leaving Courtney behind me, the only concern on my mind being that I had to find June. I stopped suddenly as I stood facing a long wall of trees. “Whoa,” I murmured.

There was no path behind these trees at all. It was just an endless, tight thicket of trees beyond, far too dangerous to cross through. To my right stood a grassy path leading deeper into the forest. To my left...

My eyes widened as I took in a deep breath. “June? June!”

June turned to me and her eyes widened, a smile that was already on her face, broadening at the sight of me. “Gary!” She wiped at her eyes with her arm.

I wanted to run over to her, sitting on the ground so calmly in a huge, circular clearing, the sun shining down, making the environment look angelic as it sparkled underneath the giant star, but I didn't. Instead, I looked around in awe.

June sat next to a Pokemon, petting its head.

A Tranquill!

And they weren't alone. As my gaze scanned the area, I could see that there were countless Tranquill everywhere! They sat high in the trees in the clearing that contained strange fruit I didn't recognize, and other Tranquill sat in the grass that was a startlingly beautiful green mixed in with flowers that looked like nothing I had ever seen before, in various colors both familiar and unfamiliar to me and in astounding, seemingly impossible shapes and designs that I didn't even have a word for, a strange set of sparkles seeming to be hovering above them, twinkling magnificently underneath the sun. Several other Tranquill were in the air, flying in circles around each other.

“Gary, isn't this beautiful?” June cried happily, looking up into the sky as she continued to pet the Tranquill next to her. “Can you believe we found this place? This is mythological!”

“Why do you say that?” I asked as I took a few cautious steps into the area.

“In Unova, they say that there's a place where Tranquill live that's full of peace and there's no conflict,” June said dreamily. “I think, this might just be that place! Just look at them all. They're all so calm and friendly. They mean no harm and...” June inhaled easily. “Don't you just feel happy being here?”

I sighed as a smile came over my face as I got closer to June. “Wow…” I whispered as a warm calm filled my body and wrapped around me. All of my worries. All of my fears. All of my stress. It was as if it was all so insignificant all of a sudden. Seeing all of these Tranquill around me, watching me, flying above me, crying out gently to me, made me appreciate all that I had in my life.

A mother who loves me, despite how unpleasantly she may show it sometimes. June, one of my best friends, who I was so grateful to have met around three years ago.

“Tranquiiiillll!” A Tranquill cawed out to me and landed in front of me.

“Hmm,” I smiled, and knelt down to the Pokemon. “Hey, it's nice to meet you!” I rubbed its head.

“Tranq...” Tranquill closed its eyes and nuzzled its head against my touch.

“They're so beautiful, huh?” June spoke softly, standing up and reaching up to the sky as a Tranquill soared just a few inches above her hands.

“Wait, my Tranquill shouldn't miss out on this, either!” I stopped petting the Tranquill near me and its eyes opened. “You want to meet my Tranquill, too?” I asked it.

“Tranq?” It cocked its head at me.

I stood up and grabbed Tranquill's Poke Ball. “Come on out!” I called as I threw it into the sky.

“Trrrraaaanquuuiiiillll!” my Tranquill called out happily as he flew into the air.

“Tran? Quiiiill!” The Tranquill on the ground near me flew up after my Tranquill, and they both met in the sky, circling around each other.

I smiled as I watched even more Tranquill that were sitting in the trees and on the ground, fly up to meet the new Tranquill.

They all flew in circles around each other, calling out happily to a new friend, flying in beautiful patterns together.

It was a sight I'd never seen before, and I knew I'd take this vision with me for the rest of my life. It was indescribably beautiful. I could feel the peace, pleasure, and love inside of me as I watched these gentle creatures commune with one another. “I can't believe this might really be that place, though,” I said to June, not taking my eyes off of the Tranquill.

“Even if it isn't, this place is like paradise for them. I'm so glad we ended up here, however we ended up here.”

“Hey.” I turned to June. “You don't think Beheeyem...?”

“Whoa! What is this?”

June and I turned around to see Courtney staring at us all with a shocked look.

“There's so many Tranquill here!” She stepped into the clearing to join us all. “And...” A smile crossed her face and a Tranquill that was circling the skies above flew down and landed gently in front of her. Courtney’s breath escaped her throat as she looked down lovingly at the Tranquill. “It feels so… Peaceful here…” She knelt down and rubbed the bird's back. Her arms suddenly reached out and wrapped around the Pokemon, pulling it into a hug.

The bird cawed out in shock at this.

Courtney laughed. “Aww! They're so friendly! I really think I want this Pokemon!”

“Don't even think about it.”

June's stern tone of voice broke my peaceful trance and I turned to her, my heart beating quickly. Something about how she spoke filled me with fear for some reason.

“Huh? Why not?” Courtney asked, turning to June, her smile fading.

“Leave these Tranquill alone,” June insisted, now glaring at Courtney.

Uh, oh, I thought as I watched June start to ruin the peaceful feel of the area.

Some of the Tranquill that were still sitting on the ground staring to coo and flutter their wings nervously, a couple of them taking for the skies immediately.

“Hey, come on, I don't own a Tranquill! What's wrong with you?” Courtney glared back.

“Find another one, please!” June pleaded. “Leave these guys alone. They don't want to fight or anything. They just want to live in peace!”

“Who do you think you are, anyway?” Courtney shouted at June, standing up as the Tranquill near her backed up several feet. She reached into her pocket and grabbed a Poke Ball. “If they're not gonna fight against me, then they must be willing to come along with me!” She enlarged the Poke Ball.

“Courtney, if you make one damn move to try and capture one of the Tranquill, first I'll break that Poke Ball and set free Tranquill, and then I'm breaking your ugly little face,” June threatened, taking a step towards her.

“If you lay one hand on me, June...” Courtney warned. “You think you hate me now? Just wait until you get beat up by me. Then you're really gonna love me.”

“One move, Courtney!” June yelled angrily. “You wanna try me? Go ahead and throw that Poke Ball and watch what happens to you!”

Courtney hesitated, her eyes on June. Both of her arms were now starting to shake. “I-I-I don't understand why you're-”

“Excuse me, please!” a stern voice spoke loudly, startling us all.

The remaining Tranquill on the ground let out surprised sounds and flew into the sky or the trees.

“Whoa! Who are you guys?” I asked with surprise.

A group of about eight or so people appeared from out of nowhere and walked through the clearing. Three of them were wearing all red attire, from their shoes to their beanie hats. Three more people wore black pants and button up shirts. One guy stepped in with white sneakers, red swimming trunks and a white wifebeater while the remaining few people were wearing tight blue jeans, each one wearing a different colored sweater. They all wore some kind of tank strapped to their backs and were holding a long black hose that was attached to the tank. The group all stepped into the clearing and split up in different directions. Once they were all far apart from each other, they raised their hoses into the air.

“FIRE!” one of the men in the red beanies shouted.

With a unanimous roar, fire blasted from the hoses!

June, Courtney, and I gasped in horror at the sight of flames that reached into the trees.

The Tranquill in the trees reacted in fear and soared into the air.

“HEY!!” I shouted in terror, watching as the people raised their hoses to burn down the trees, some of them even turning their hoses on the Tranquill as they tried to get away!

“What is going on here?!” June shrieked, her hands over her heart as her eyes began to immediately fill with tears.

Courtney was speechless, and her hand was now empty, her Poke Ball on the ground at her feet as her head turned around, watching the people burning down the forest and attacking the Tranquill.

They can't do this! Who the hell are these guys? I shouted angrily in my head, and I immediately charged at the closest one to me. “CUT IT OOOOOOOOOOUUUUT!!!” I roared and reached out for the person's head.

The person’s flamethrower stopped as he turned from burning a group of trees and raised it towards my face!

“Tranquiiiill!!” A Tranquill from above cried out and flapped its glowing wings, sending out white saw blade energy.

The man screamed as the blades hit him and tossed him back through the air several feet. He groaned as he slammed on his back, his flamethrower shooting a blast of fire into the air.

“Tranquill, no!!” I screamed as the stream of fire hit the Pokemon that had saved me, in the chest. “Tranquill!! Tranquiiill!!!” What Tranquill is this one?? I panicked. My Tranquill?? No!! Tranquill!! “Tranquill!!”

“TRAAAAAAAAAAANNQ!!!!” Tranquill shrieked as it dropped to the ground in a ball of flames.

A loud shriek made me turn around and see June, her mouth open in a desperate wail, her hands to her cheeks as she stared in horror at the burning Tranquill. June shook her head hard and dropped her bag to the ground, her hands shaking visibly as she tried desperately to unzip her bag.

“Tranquill!!” I screamed tearfully at the fallen Pokemon as I dropped to my knees beside it, my heart only a couple of beats away from bursting through my chest. Tears were burning my eyes. I didn't like that any Tranquill was burning right in front of me, but if it was mine… NO!!

“VAPOREON, WATER GUN, NOW!!” June threw her Poke Ball. “Get rid of the fire on that Tranquill!!”

“Vaporeon!! Pooooooooooor!” Vaporeon sprayed down the Tranquill with a stream of water.

The fire on the poor bird's body was gone, its body marked with several black burns.

“Tranquiilll!!” a voice from above called, and I looked up to see a Tranquill land next to me on the ground. “Tranq!”

“That one is yours, Gary,” June told me, her voice shaking hard, tears rolling down her cheeks. “He's okay.”

“Tranquill!!” I cried joyously, but before I could appreciatively hug my Pokemon, the man that had been taken down by the other Tranquill's Air Slash got to his feet quickly, his pink T-shirt now displaying slashes through it, what looked like streaks of blood now smeared on it.

“We have to fight them!” I called to June and Courtney. “Let's use our best Pokemon, now!” I grabbed Seismitoad's Poke Ball.

“We have to put out the fire! We can't worry about fighting!” June insisted.

“Then me and Courtney will battle these guys!” I told her. “You put out the fire until we can assist you!”

“Tranq!!” My Tranquill flew into the air, flapping his wings angrily. “Tranquill!!” He turned to me and nodded with determination.

“You? Alright, then it's you and me, Tranquill! We'll save all your friends!” I agreed, nodding. “These guys won't get away with this! You ready, Courtney?”

Courtney smiled and nodded, grabbing a Poke Ball from her waist.

June shot Courtney a dirty look and quickly dug into her bag again, grumbling angrily. She came back up. “Fine, then I'll have to put out the fire and battle, too!” Her words were angry, hurt, and spoken with a bitter taste in her mouth, all the while glaring at Courtney.

Courtney turned to her and stared at the new Poke Ball in her hand.

This Poke Ball had a sticker with the letter 'E' on it.

Vaporeon, Galvantula, Rotom, Magnezone, and... I thought. “June, wait a second!” I shouted.

“GO!” June shouted, tossing the Poke Ball to the ground.

“Electiviiiiire!” the Electric threat growled as he looked around.

“Electivire, we need you to help us battle these creeps! Attack with Psychic attack, now!” June ordered sternly.

“Virrrrre…” Electivire crossed his arms and turned to the blazing flames around him. “Vire.”

“Electivire, please, this isn't the time! Attack those guys!” June insisted, her voice cracking.

The group of criminals in the area had turned to watch June's Electivire, their flamethrowers still pointed at the trees, moving them from side to side, up and down, burning down everything in the way, smoke rising into the sky.

Electivire's body suddenly started to spark.

“Electivire, I said Psychic! Please!! Or use Quick Attack! Just don't use an Electric attack!!” June pleaded. “You might spark an explosion!”

“TIVIIIIRRRE!!” Electivire shouted, and shocked June with a bright blast of electricity. “TIVIRE!! VIRE! VIRE! VIIIIIIRRRE!!”

June screamed as she was hit with constant shocks from her own Pokemon. She had collapsed to the ground after the first hit, her hair instantly standing up on end, but her Pokemon continued to zap her a few more times.

I backed away from the furious Pokemon, Courtney backing up along with me, getting so close to me that our shoulders were pressed tightly together.

June's Vaporeon was staring up at Electivire with fear.

The Tranquill in the area were either flying away into the skies or were flying around in the area in a panic, terrified.

“TRANQUIIIILL!!” My Tranquill flew into the air and around the group with the flamethrowers, using Quick Attack and knocking a couple of them over.

“Yes! Tranquill, keep it up!” I encouraged my Pokemon. “Take 'em all down! Quick Attack!”

One of the group members turned around as a few more people in his team were taken out, and as Tranquill flew for him next, he smiled devilishly and pointed the flamethrower at my Pokemon.

“Tranquill, get back!!” I called out to him.

A large stream of fire flew out for Tranquill.

Tranquill cawed sharply as he dove down and spiraled as he swirled around the flames continuously in circles! Flying around the line of fire with stunning flying talent, all the while keep dangerously close to the heat, he flew into the man's face and took him down.

“Gary, watch out!” Courtney suddenly screamed at me, and before I could move, my eyes still glued to my Tranquill, I was grabbed by my shoulders and forced to the ground. Courtney was next to me, holding me down by my back.

“What happened?” I turned around and looked up behind me. “Yyaaaaahhhh!!” I flattened my body on the ground as a woman's flamethrower sent out searing flames right where Courtney and I had been standing!

Her flames went out and she lowered her head to me with a sneer.

With a last second decision, I leaped at the woman's middle and tackled her to the ground. She uttered out in fright at my attack, but my heart that was beating so painfully, it felt as if each beat was a repeated explosion, told me that I was probably more surprised by my own action than she was. I dropped the woman to the ground easily.

“This mission is over!!” someone yelled with a deep voice. “Solace, retreat!!”

Before I could react to the man's words, the woman underneath me pulled back her arm and socked me in the cheek, forcing me off of her.

With a painful grunt, I collapsed to the ground, the side of my face burning and throbbing, my entire head ringing sharply. I heard the sound of footsteps around me, but I couldn't move. It felt like my face was paralyzed with pain. It hurt both to move, and not to move. I moaned in agony, my face feeling as if it were swelling up.

“Electivire!!!” I heard Electivire yell.

Although it hurt, my eyes tearing up from the pain, I managed to push myself up to my knees and I turned my sore head to Electivire.

Electivire was standing in front of the group of people with the flamethrowers! He growled viciously at them, his arms extended wide, blocking their path.

“Electivire...” June spoke from behind me. “Vaporeon, work on clearing out the fire, please! Use Hydro Pump!!”

I could hear Vaporeon listening to her Trainer's orders as she attacked the flames.

“Okay, Alomomola, help out that Vaporeon!! Clear the fire!!” Courtney shouted as she tossed a Poke Ball.

A little pink Pokemon appeared, crying out in a low voice, and it attacked the fire with a blast of water.

Courtney turned back to the group of bad guys and grabbed another Poke Ball.

The Tranquill who were still in the area were flapping their wings desperately, trying to assist Alomomola and Vaporeon in getting rid of the fire by blowing it out.

I couldn't spot my Tranquill anywhere.

Electivire's body sparked dangerously.

“Electivire, wait! Please, be careful!!” June called out to her Pokemon.

The group raised their flamethrowers and pointed them at Electivire.

“Virrrrrrre...” Electivire sparked even more threateningly, a sneaky smile on his face.

“Tranq!” A Tranquill flapped its wings at the fire nearby us.

“VIRE!!!!” Electivire raged.

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSHHHH!!!!!!!

An enormous wave of fire that was burning the trees close by, reached out and hit Electivire.

He screamed and stumbled away from the large flame searing him.

The Tranquill that had been trying to blow away that very flame, squawked out and flapped its wings, backing away from what it just accidentally caused.

The group of flamethrower wielders backed up. One of the members pointed behind him, and he and the group ran towards an area of the woods that was no longer burning, thanks to Vaporeon and Alomomola.

“Quill!” A Tranquill suddenly appeared in a flash in front of the group, flapping its wings angrily at them.

“My Electivire!” June was holding her hair down as best as she could, though a good portion of it was still sticking up, as she ran towards her Electivire.

Electivire was on his right side on the ground, holding his left shoulder, his face grimacing in pain, growling.

June knelt down beside him. “Electivire! Are you okay?”

“Tivire...” Electivire groaned, wincing.

“Baby, it's okay,” June said to her Pokemon. “It's gonna be alright. I'm he-YAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!” She dropped to the ground as Electivire shocked her. Shivering from the pain, her body sparking, she raised a Poke Ball. “R-r-r-r-r-ret-t-turn…”

Electivire was returned to his Poke Ball.

June then shakily turned to me, her body shooting off weak sparks. “G-G-G-Gary, that's your Tr-Tranquill! J-j-just l-let those g-g-guys ge-get away! It's not w-w-w-worth it! We can at least put out the fi-fire!”

“No way! Tranquill, don't let them escape!” I instructed my Pokemon. I could smell the thickening smoke in the area, but I could breathe alright for the moment. I still couldn’t manage to my feet, my face still burning from the punch I took, my brain unable to focus to get the muscles in my legs to start working properly. Stop being such a punk, I told myself strictly. Get to your feet you chump. It was just a punch from some chick. I told myself that, but as I struggled to my feet, the throbbing pain in my face was telling me that this wasn't going to be so easily gotten over. “These guys can't just be let go like this! They're members of Team Solace!”

“Gary, maybe you should listen to June! It’s not worth losing our Pokemon!” Courtney tried to reason with me.

The group raised their flamethrowers at my Tranquill.

With a gasp, I reached for his Poke Ball to retreat him.

The entire group fired at my Pokemon at once.

“Tranq! Quiiiiill! Tranq! Tranq!” Tranquill soared around the flames as the group kept aiming at him, trying to burn him.

I grit my teeth angrily and grabbed Seismitoad's Poke Ball.

“TRRRAAAAAANQ!!!!!” Tranquill's caw was ear piercing and caused me to drop my Poke Ball as I covered my ears.

Tranquill's tail had been burned by one of the flamethrowers, and he crashed to the ground behind the group. The flame on his tail went out in smoke.

The group members all turned to face the bird. One of the men in the red beanie said something in a low voice, and the rest of the members nodded. All of them ran into the woods, leaving behind only one member.

“Hey! Where do you think you're going?” I raged at them. I picked up Seismitoad's Poke Ball and pulled my arm back. “Tranquill, hang on! I've got you!” Fully prepared to fling the Poke Ball as hard as I could, I suddenly froze.

Tranquill's collapsed body twitched once before becoming ignited in a bright flash of light. His body elongated, stretched, and his wings opened wide, his form morphing and expanding. With a loud shout, the flash disappeared in sprinkles of light and a new Pokemon stood in his place.

“It's Unfezant!!” I exclaimed with excitement. “Tranquill evolved!!”

“Unfeeeeezant!” my new Pokemon shouted as he spread his wings wide, looking up to the sky. He lowered his head and shook it sharply.

The lone member, a surprisingly young looking girl in tight blue jeans and a white sweater, took a step back. An angry leer appeared in her eyes and she screamed out as she fired at my Unfezant.

“Feeeeeeeeez!!” Unfezant soared into the air at a startling speed.

The young girl raised her flamethrower and blew out a long flame at my Pokemon's back.

Unfezant screamed out, the flame dangerously close to him as he dodged to the side and continued to fly higher into the air.

“Unfezant, that's enough! Please, return!” I held out his Poke Ball to return him, the red beam extending from the center of the Poke Ball to get him back inside of it.

“Uuuuuuunnn!!” Unfezant dodged the red beam. “Unfeeeez!” Unfezant dodged another red beam and spiraled back down.

The girl smiled and held the flamethrower up to Unfezant, aiming.

“Unfezaaaaaaaaaaaant!!” Unfezant cawed.

With a loud, furious shriek, she fired the flamethrower.

Unfezant's eyes glowed light blue, and it swooped directly under the line of fire and into the girl’s stomach.

She screamed as she was forced back and slammed hard into a burning tree. She groaned and collapsed weakly, the fire from the tree blazing powerfully behind her.

“CALL BACK THE POKEMON!!!!!” June screamed at the top of her lungs.

“Huh?” I turned to her.

“RUUUN!!! RUUUUNNN!!! ALL OF YOU, FLY AWAY!!!! GET OUT OF HERE!!!!” June screamed frantically, swatting at the birds still trying to blow away the fire and scaring them away. She returned her Vaporeon as she ran around in a panic.

Courtney quickly returned her Alomomola, fright on her face as she watched June.

I recalled Unfezant quickly.

June tore past me and Courtney, out of the woods. “IT'S GONNA EXPLOOOOOOOODE!!!!!”

Courtney and I faced each other with matching looks of horror. We were running after June by the very next second.

The last thing I saw before running away from the once beautiful, peaceful clearing, was the motionless body of the Tranquill that had been burned saving my life.

The three of us had been running for a very long time, our hands covering our ears in preparation for the explosion that was sure to come. We ran beyond exhaustion. We ran even when our legs had gotten shaky, trying to drop us to our knees, our breaths hoarse and pained.

Tears were even flowing from my eyes because I was so worn out from running.

It must have been an hour of running, if not two. It was hard to tell time when you were running for your life.

Against our will, we all dropped to the ground, starting with Courtney, and then me, June collapsing several feet away from us. Neither of us spoke a word. We were all too tired. Speaking was now impossible.

I collapsed onto my back and closed my eyes. Though my body was screaming for water, I was just too beat to move. I inhaled hard, repeatedly, desperate to slow down my heart's pace. My entire body was in nothing but pain, inside and out, top to bottom. The only thing I could think of was the amazing paradise for the Tranquill that was now destroyed. We need to contact the police, I realized suddenly, my eyes shooting open. It's still burning down. This whole forest is in danger. An explosion just occurred… No. Wait. I sat up and looked over at June and Courtney, who were both sitting up already, heads down, still gasping for air.

Courtney swallowed, resulting in her coughing.

June’s eyes were closed tightly as she gripped her bag.

The very thought of trying to talk made my throat hurt, so I removed my backpack and pulled out a bottle of water. I slowly drank from it, and the refreshing water both soothed my throat and made it sting even worse. I continued sipping from it until it was halfway empty, and then I set it down and continued heaving, though at a slower pace.

June stared at me drinking from my bottle of water, and when I had set it down, she looked away and opened her bag, reaching inside and pulling out her own bottle of water.

Courtney continued breathing hard as she kept her eyes down.

I raised my bottle to my lips and drank thirstily from it, emptying the rest of its contents, and I sighed with satisfaction as I put the bottle back in my bag, and I turned my gaze to June.

June removed her bottle from her lips and stared back at me.

Neither of us said anything. We both were obviously still trying to recover enough energy to even speak.

Courtney removed her pink backpack from her shoulders and slowly unzipped it. She dug through it for a moment and came out with a pink canteen, which she drank from quickly. She began choking hard within the first couple of seconds, spitting out her water.

I swallowed as I waited for my head to stop spinning and my body to get a little bit stronger.

Courtney tried to drink again while she was still coughing and spit up water on her face and shirt. She slapped her chest repeatedly as she coughed even harder and tried to catch her breath, lowering her canteen.

I swallowed once more and opened my mouth. “June, what happened?” I managed to ask weakly.

June didn't answer me, but she stared back.

“June,” I said again.

She shook her head, breathing hard. Her lips parted, and then closed as she gave them a lick. They opened again. “I don't know. I thought…”

We both stared at each other in silence.

Courtney took another drink from her canteen.

“There was no explosion,” I told June. “Nothing happened.”

She nodded. “I really thought… I thought that tank… Thought it'd blow up.”

I lowered my head as my breathing started to ease up.

“That girl's tank… Should have blown up from the heat… From the fire…” June continued, trying to breathe easier.

“But it didn't,” I said, my eyes on the grass beneath me. I looked up at June. “They got away, didn't they?”

June shook her head. “No.”

“They got away,” I repeated. “All of them. That one girl is gone, too. They destroyed that place. They destroyed the home of all of those Tranquill. Team Solace got away.”

“How are they back? They were supposed to be finished!” June whined. “Their leader is dead!”

Courtney lowered her canteen as she listened to us talk.

“Team Solace has finally come to an end.”

Prof. Oak’s words that had given me courage and strength throughout my recovery in the hospital over two years ago.

Prof. Oak's words that had helped carry me through life, making so many painful memories from my past just a little bit easier for me to handle.

Prof. Oak’s words that had made it easier to sleep through so many nights and accept countless, fresh mornings.

Prof. Oak’s words.

Had lost their meaning for me entirely.

They were as good as lies.

Team Solace was indeed back.