“I can’t believe you let me fight against those people on my own,” June said angrily. “You knew I was right, and you believed that Team Solace was behind that attack, but you didn’t say a word. You just dragged me out of the building as if I was out of my mind!”

“June, you didn’t fight with anybody,” I told her.

“That guy grabbed my arm,” June glared at me. “Are you trying to justify that?”

“Not at all. I tried to free you, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, but that’s about the only defense I got from you. Other than that, you just stayed quiet and let me do all the talking. You’ve seen that kind of wall before. You know exactly what it is! You know who was responsible for trapping Claydol in Virbank City! Why didn’t you say something?!” June screamed at me.

“Because things aren’t that easy anymore, June!” I shouted back. “In case you haven’t noticed, everything is getting a lot worse than it was last time they were in action! Things aren’t the same! They’re…” I closed my mouth and stopped walking, staring angrily at June.

June also stopped and stared back at me seriously.

Courtney, Ella, and Trixa stopped as well, listening to us argue silently.

“What, Gary? They’re what? Huh?” June demanded.

I swallowed and looked away from her, down the block the five of us had been walking down together.

We had just crossed 30th Street, having left Virbank City about an hour ago, the attack from Claydol that happened a few days ago still fresh on our minds.

“They’re winning, June,” I said softly. “They’re spreading their influence.” I turned to her as I started to feel even more fired up. “For you, I would have fought that guy. You know I’d stand up for you if you ever got into some kind of danger. That’s not a question. But that wasn’t worth getting beat up over! You don’t seem to understand what’s taking place around us!”

“Then explain it to me, Gary.” June crossed her arms.

“They’re convincing people Pokemon are evil!” I tossed my arms into the air. “People are siding with Team Solace! It’s getting dangerous to even be a Pokemon Trainer, June!”

June’s hardened face softened as she listened to me.

“Team Solace is worse than ever before,” I continued, reflecting on their many actions so far, including shooting down Zorua and Zoroark, releasing the ancient Pokemon from Twist Mountain, attacking the peaceful Tranquill in their home, and the recent attack with Claydol in Virbank. “This doesn’t even feel like they’re trying to prove Pokemon are evil anymore…” I shook my head and my body started to shake.

“Could we talk about something else, please?” Ella whispered.

I closed my eyes tight and shook my head hard, squeezing my fists at my sides. My eyebrows furrowed as I opened my mouth to speak. “No! We can’t! We have to be strong enough, now more than ever, to address these issues and not back away from them. Things for us, especially as Pokemon Trainers, are going to get increasingly difficult from here on, and we need to stand together and make the best decisions to overcome them. That means we can’t be afraid of the name of Team Solace. We need to be open about this situation we’re in. They’re back, but they never really left, if you think about it. Prof. Oak said that Team Solace is much more than just the leader running it. It can be anyone. That belief system can start in anyone, and it can spread quickly. I-”

“Gary, just stop it!!” Ella burst out angrily.

I opened my eyes and turned to her in shock. “Ella…” That was when I saw Trixa.

Her hands were covering her face as she shivered in Ella’s arms, crying quietly.

“Trixa. What happened?” I took a step towards her.

“Please! Please! I really, really, hate fighting…” Trixa whimpered, lowering her hands and looking at me with her shimmering, tearful eyes. “If there’s one thing I’m grateful for during my Pokemon journey, it’s, above all else, being away from my mommy and daddy. I hated when they argued, and being away from the noise is the best thing about this journey I’m on with my Pokemon. And, for the first time in my life, I have friends. Don’t ruin that for me! I can’t take it!” Trixa wept and covered her face again.

My shoulders slumped as I watched her crying. I felt really bad, now. “Trixa, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m sorry for fighting. Trixa, please don’t cry.” I walked over to her and placed my hand on her shoulder.

Courtney walked over to us, smiling. “Yeah, let’s all just calm down. We’re all just a little stressed out after what happened in Virbank. Let’s all just hug and make up, okay?” She opened her arms wide.

Trixa sniffled and smiled at Courtney. “Okay! A hug sounds nice.”

Courtney nodded and wrapped her arms around Trixa and Ella.

“Awww! Hugs sound great!” Ella closed her eyes in Courtney’s hold.

June and I exchanged glances before also joining in the hug.

We all separated after a moment, Courtney beaming happily. “See? All better now, right?”

Trixa wiped at her nose and nodded happily at Courtney. She looked at Ella, and then June, and finally looked up at me. Her eyes twinkled as they stayed on mine.

My heart began to beat harder as I smiled back. “I’m sorry about that, Trixa.”

“I just don’t want my friends to-HEY!”

“Whoa!” I cried out in shock as several small creatures ran in between me and Trixa and shoved us apart.

Ella, Courtney, and June cried out with us and backed away.

“What are-yikes!” Trixa squealed in fright, backing up a few more feet.

“Damn!” I backed away as well as something larger ran through. “Wait! That’s a Bisharp! And those smaller things are…”

Pawniard. The Sharp Blade Pokemon. Their entire bodies are made up of sharp blades, making this Pokemon dangerous to come into contact with for anyone. They know where to stab their prey to immobilize them.

Bisharp. The Sword Blade Pokemon. This is Pawniard’s evolved form. Bisharp lead packs of Pawniard, and when the groups encounter one another, the Bisharp battle for control over both packs of Pawniard. The loser of these fights is cast out and travels alone until it finds a pack of Pawniard to rule over.

“Freaking cool!” Courtney put her Pokedex away. “I don’t have any of those things!”

“They look dangerous,” Trixa said with worry as the group of Pokemon turned a corner and disappeared.

“They are,” Ella told her, rubbing her back. “But they’re really good Pokemon if you can catch one. I own a Bisharp, myself.”

“Well, I need one!” Courtney took off down the block.

“Be careful!” Trixa called after her.

“I want one of those, too!” I ran after Courtney.

“Gary, wait! Trixa, come on!” Ella said.

“Oh, I don’t know if I wanna be a part of this!” Trixa replied nervously.

I could hear several footsteps running behind me.

Courtney turned the corner, me right behind her, and she came to a stop. “No way!”

I slowed down to a stop and looked down the block. From this corner, the sun beamed directly onto me, heating me up immediately. I squinted through the sun at several people walking towards us.

The block I stood on, as well as the one across the street, was lined with houses. The front lawns held a lot of flowers amongst the grass.

“How’d they get away from us?” Courtney complained. “They were right here!”

Trixa, Ella, and June turned the corner and stopped near us.

“What happened?” June asked.

“The stupid Pawniard and Bisharp got away from us!” Courtney fumed.

“Phew! Thank goodness.” Trixa brushed her hair out of her face. “Now, I suggest we all go back to Virbank City and get us all a Bearticone.” She beamed at us all.

The four of us looked down at Trixa seriously.

Trixa’s smile faded away slowly as she stared back at us. “What? It’s hot outside today!”

“We are not going back to-” I cut myself short and the anger on my face vanished as my eyes turned to Ella.

She was already staring at me.

I cleared my throat and turned back to Trixa. Air was pulled in by my nose and came out through my mouth. “Trixa, we are not going back to Virbank,” I spoke slowly, carefully, and with forced gentleness.

“Why?” she asked me.

I inhaled as I gritted my teeth angrily.

“Trixa, there was a major attack there! Don’t you remember the Claydol?” Ella cried. “It destroyed a section of the city! We’re lucky we weren’t badly injured in the midst of all of that! That the hospital released us the next day!”

“Yeah, I remember, silly,” Trixa smiled at Ella. “But I’m sure the ice cream man is out there today.”

“I don’t think we should be bothering people for ice cream considering what they’re going through over there right now,” Ella tried to convince Trixa.

“Why?” Trixa asked.

Ella was trying to keep herself calm, but I could see her patience wearing thin.

As people were walking by us, my eye was caught by a young lady with short, black hair. I turned my head, my attention stolen by what was walking alongside her, and my heart beat even quicker as my eyes widened.

“Trixa, please, Virbank is about ten blocks from here. I am not going back there for some ice cream,” Ella said shortly.

“Have you ever had a Bearticone? You would walk a lot more than just ten blocks if you knew how those things tasted,” Trixa said happily. “Trust me. Come on!”

“Trixaaaaa! I just want my Badge!” Ella whined, stomping her foot. “Pleeeeeeease!! It’s bad enough that bad luck has once again struck me at the hands of Gary.”

“Huh?” I pulled my eyes away from the woman and the Pokemon walking next to her and turned to Ella.

She was smiling at me, her head tilted to the side, and her eyes fluttered at me a few times.

I was speechless at her adorable act, unsure of what I should say or how I should react.

“Once again, on my way to getting another Badge, you prevent me from getting it!” she laughed.

“What do you mean…?” I asked uncertainly, smiling slightly, wanting to laugh along with this definition of perfection, but not understanding what was so funny.

“I’m just kidding, Gary,” Ella continued to smile, placing a hand on my shoulder.

Her touch made my heart go berserk.

“I was just joking about how I never got my Badge in Nimbasa, Driftveil, and now, I can’t even battle in Virbank with all that’s going on over there right now. It’s like, every time I run into you, I’m prevented from getting anywhere on my journey.”

“Oh! Ha ha ha!” I laughed uncomfortably. “Sorry about that…” I lowered my head sadly.

“I wasn’t serious, Gary! Don’t be sorry. None of that was your fault. I know that.”

I looked up at her, smiling, and I nodded. “I know. I didn’t take it any kind of bad way or anything.”

“Okay, good,” Ella said with relief. “But, seriously, if we’re all going to Ghyst Town together, I damn well better get my Badge!” Her teeth glowed brightly at me as she smiled broadly.

How beautiful she appeared to me almost brought me to tears as I basked in her glow that made the sun nonexistent. I took a deep breath as I blinked back the tears from forming and I smiled more shyly, intimidated by every part of her face that fit together so perfectly to create such a goddess I was unworthy to lay my imperfect eyes on, let alone speak to with my undeserving mouth. “Ella, if you don’t win your Badge there, I’m not getting mine from there, either,” I promised. “We both need only one Badge. We can totally do this.”

“And I already have all eight of mine!” Trixa said proudly. “I’m awesome, huh?”

Ella and I turned to Trixa with a pair of sharp leers.

I heard a cry and turned behind me.

The sound came from the lady I had been watching walk down the sidewalk. She was kneeling down on the ground next to her companion.

A Pawniard. The little creature was sitting on the ground. It seemed to be really weak, its legs quaking as the woman helped it to its feet.

She held on to the Pokemon’s sharp hand and guided it forward, walking slowly.

“What’s wrong with that lady and her Pokemon?” Ella asked.

“Come on. We should help them out,” I suggested, and I jogged towards them.

“I don’t wanna go near one of those things! What’s with all the scary Pokemon today?” Trixa complained in a scared voice.

I ran a little faster to catch up with the woman as she walked towards a fence in front of a house.

She opened it and stepped inside, carefully pulling in the hobbling Pawniard after her. They both walked slowly across the lawn towards the front door.

Pawniard suddenly stopped and turned around as I neared the house. “Pawniard!” The sharp Pokemon took a threatening position, pointing its bladed hands towards me.

“Huh?” the woman gasped, and she looked in my direction.

My eyes widened as I came to a stop a few feet from the fence to her house.

Courtney, Ella, June, and Trixa all came to a stop a few feet behind me.

“Oh, gosh! It’s going to kill Gary! Gary, run!” Trixa shouted.

“Trixa!” Ella said loudly, angrily.

“It’s okay,” the lady smiled, looking at my friends behind me. “This Pokemon won’t attack you. It’s in far too much pain to engage in any battling. Go on. Feel free to run along.”

I kept my eyes warily on the Pawniard. “Thank you, but, actually, I ran down here to sort of ask you about that Pawniard.”

“You… did?” She looked very surprised.

“Yes,” I nodded. “Me and my friends saw a little group of Pawniard and a Bisharp run past, and then-”

The woman gasped loudly. “What did you say?”

“Pawniard…” Pawniard groaned and collapsed.

“Pawniard!” The woman knelt down next to the Pokemon.

I moved quickly to the white fence, but I stopped once I reached it, afraid to get any closer.

The lady gently scooped up her Pokemon in her arms. “Ouch!” she whispered, wincing as she stood up.

“Miss, are you okay?” I asked her.

“Yes, I just think I may have cut my arm a little while picking up Pawniard just now. I’m okay, though,” she smiled at me. “Um, please, you and your friends should come inside. We can talk more there.”

“Really? Are you sure that’s okay?” I asked her.

“Yes. I insist.” She carried Pawniard to the front door and shifted the Pokemon to one arm. Her other hand reached into her blue jeans and came out with a set of keys.

I opened the fence and held it for Ella.

Ella grabbed it, holding Trixa by the hand like a little child, and she gently pulled her towards her.

Trixa hesitantly got closer to Ella, keeping her fearful eyes on the Pawniard.

Courtney grabbed the fence and followed Trixa, June right behind them.

I ran towards the front door, past the grass and small collection of flowers that didn’t look very well taken care of, and I jumped the three steps of the stoop to the front door and held it open for the woman.

“Thank you,” she said gratefully, and quickly stepped inside her house with Pawniard in her arms.

I waited for the girls to catch up to where I was before I entered this stranger’s house.

There was certainly a lot of brown inside. The floor was wooden and painted brown like the walls and ceiling of the rest of the brick house. Two brown, wooden chairs sat a few feet away from a large, brown couch that sat in front of a brown, wooden table. A brown shelf against the wall by the table held a small, brown radio on top of it, brown candles on either side of the box. Books sat on the bottom shelf, while the shelf above it contained little brown statues of an Eevee, Vaporeon, Jolteon, Leafeon, Glaceon, Flareon, Umbreon, and Espeon. The windows were covered by brown curtains, sunlight barely able to get through. A brown door was halfway open, and I could see a metal sink behind it, so I thought that may be the kitchen. The floor and wall inside of that room seemed to be made of porcelain, and was, of course, brown. A wooden staircase just feet away from me, covered in, yes, brown, carpeting, led upstairs.

Kinda weird, I thought.

The lady walked over to her couch and laid Pawniard on it.

As Pawniard stretched out and got comfortable, moaning happily, I noticed that the couch held a lot of cuts and tears, revealed by Pawniard’s movements.

“I’ll just wash this off, but I’ll be back in a second, okay?” The lady held up her right arm, which I now saw was coated in a thin layer of blood. She walked through the brown door, opening it wide. I could now see the brown refrigerator and brown stove in that room, confirming that was the kitchen.

I couldn’t help but snicker as I looked at the fridge and remembered June’s Rotom had possessed one to attack my mom. It was barely amusing when it had happened, and the furthest thing from funny when I was panicking about the incident when I first arrived in Unova, but now, having spoken to my mom and sort of sorted everything out, the entire incident was rather hilarious.

Water ran from the faucet as the woman washed her hands and arms with liquid soap.

“Wow, there’s a lot of brown in here,” Ella said as she looked around the house.

“It’s nice,” Courtney said simply with a smile.

“That Pawniard is… kind of cute when it’s sleeping…” Trixa commented, peeking from behind Ella. “I hope it stays there until we leave…”

Pawniard stirred, and Trixa cried out, ducking behind Ella.

June closed the front door gently behind her and locked it.

“Everything okay in here?” the lady asked, returning from the kitchen, her arm wrapped in gauze.

“Yes. Are you okay?” I asked her.

“I’m just fine. I’m just sorry there aren’t any more seats. The floor was mopped just last night and should be fine to sit on, though, ha ha.” The woman sat on the floor and crossed her legs. “Please, grab a seat and tell me about the Bisharp and Pawniard you saw.”

The five of us looked at each other, and then turned to the two chairs. We all moved fast.

“I win!” Trixa cheered as she got one of the chairs.

“I’m not so sure Marc would be happy with this,” Ella giggled. “Or maybe he would be.” She burst out laughing.

“You’re quick, Ella,” June winked, sitting in Ella’s lap. She got to her feet. “Who’s Marc?”

“My boyfriend!” Ella’s eyes shot towards me faster than the speed of light before staying on June.

June’s mouth opened, but it closed again quickly, and she just nodded, not saying a word.

Courtney stared at Ella before squinting at me.

I swallowed hard and looked to the floor. Oh… I thought. So, Marc is his name.

“I guess you three will be joining me, then, huh? Ha ha,” the lady said, nodding.

Courtney, June, and I turned to each other before taking our seats on the floor.

“So, welcome to my little abode, ha! My name is Samantha. Who are you guys?” the woman introduced herself.

“I’m Gary.”

“Courtney. It’s kind of you to allow us in your house.”

“I’m Ella. It’s really nice to meet you.”

“My name’s June. Very nice to meet you.”

“I’m Trixa. All I wanna do is get some ice cream.” Trixa sighed sadly.

“Ice cream? I have some ice cream in the freezer if you guys would like some.” Samantha started to climb to her feet.

“No!” I insisted. “This isn’t about ice cream!” I turned to Trixa. “Will you please stop it?”

“Is it a Bearticone?” Trixa completely ignored me, her hopeful eyes on Samantha.

“No… It’s Hoggin’-Dooz,” Samantha said, looking from me to Trixa, repeatedly.

“Nobody’s getting any ice cream,” I snapped. “Samantha, not long ago, we-”

“Hoggin’-Dooz sucks. I wanted a Bearticone!” Trixa crossed her arms and pouted.

“Sorry… I don’t have any Bearticones…” Samantha said slowly.

“Samantha, please, just ignore-” I tried to speak.

“Bearticones are amazing! Have you ever even tried one? Obviously not. If you had, you wouldn’t be eating stinky-”

“Trixa!” I shouted angrily.

Pawniard cried out and sat up straight, staring at us all.

“Oh, great. Now you woke up that scary Pokemon!” Trixa scrunched up in her chair.

“Speaking of Pawniard…” I growled, turning back to Samantha, trying to relax. “I was trying to explain that we ran into a group of Pawniard and a Bisharp a short while ago. So, when I saw your Pawniard, it kind of grabbed my attention.”

“I see,” Samantha nodded solemnly. “It seems you found what we’ve been looking for for the past few days. This one’s pack.”

“Did we really?” I asked her, leaning forward.

Samantha smiled and turned to Pawniard.

Pawniard was listening to us silently, and it turned to Samantha.

“You see, I found this little one around Route 20, when I was taking a really nice walk the other day. The weather was rather tame, and I got lost in the moment of a beautiful enough day while nearing Floccesy Ranch, and then, I came across this little Pawniard. It was beaten up and unable to move. Even when I touched it, it could only scream to try to defend itself. It couldn’t even attack me. I carried it back home with me, the poor Pokemon screaming the entire way home as I did my best to keep it calm and quiet. I think that maybe it was separated from its pack during some kind of scuffle. It’s been okay ever since I’ve been taking care of it, and I’ve gained its trust, but, we both are kind of hoping for the same thing. To find its pack so it can go back home. We were trying to find its friends today, as well, but something terrible seems to be going on in Virbank City, so we just decided to head back home, and that was when we met you kids.”

“I see,” June said quietly. She smiled, turning to Pawniard.

Pawniard now had its gaze on June.

“She seems like a really kind Pokemon,” June said. “I’m glad you found her and took good care of her.”

“Her?” Samantha turned to June in confusion.

“Oh, boy…” Courtney sighed, smiling as she looked up at the ceiling.

June didn’t speak, keeping a pair of furious eyes on Courtney, and her lips pressed together angrily.

Courtney lowered her eyes to the floor as her smile faded, refusing to look at June.

Ella was now watching June and Courtney.

“Oh, yeah! June can talk to Pokemon and stuff!” Trixa exclaimed.

“Talk to Pokemon? What do you mean?” Samantha turned to Trixa.

“June can, like, control Pokemon with her voice, or something. I dunno. I kinda forgot.” Trixa’s eyes seemed to sparkle as she smiled at Samantha.

“Wha…?” Samantha looked very perplexed.

“I cannot control Pokemon,” June sighed. “I can communicate with Pokemon and understand their language. I’m also able to spot genders at a glance, usually. That Pawniard is definitely a female.”

“Really?” Samantha turned to Pawniard. “Is that true?”

Pawniard got to her feet and leaped from the couch. She ran towards Samantha and jumped in the air. “Pawniard!” She nodded her head eagerly.

“Well, that’s quite interesting!” Samantha said to June. “If this power of yours is legit, can you even fully understand what happened to Pawniard in the first place?”

“I absolutely can,” June said to Samantha. She looked at Pawniard. “Pawniard, hello! My name is June.” She held out her hand.

“June! Don’t! It’ll slice your hand off!” Trixa warned.

“Trixa, honey, please. Shush. I know what I’m doing.” June kept her hand reaching for Pawniard, her eyes on the Pokemon.

Pawniard was focusing on June now, not moving.

Trixa kept her nervous eyes on Pawniard.

“You’ve been through a lot of pain and have had quite the journey recently, haven’t you?” June told Pawniard. “But, you were saved by this wonderful woman named Samantha. Won’t you please tell me what happened that made this fateful meeting occur? Samantha wants to know what happened to you. We might even be able to return you back to your pack.”

“Pawniard?” Pawniard cocked her head at June.

“Mhm.” June’s mouth formed a smile as she nodded at Pawniard. “Please, tell me how you got so hurt, Pawniard. What’s your story?”

Courtney was shaking her head behind June, her hand covering her face as she smiled, her body shaking as she silently laughed.

Ella was watching Courtney.

Courtney’s behavior was truly irritating me. I would have preferred it if she just stepped outside rather than be so rude.

“Pawniard! Pawn! Pawniard! Pawniard! Pawniard!” Pawniard spoke to June.

All of us had our eyes on Pawniard as she told June whatever it was she was telling her.

“Pawniard!” Pawniard didn’t say anything else.

June kept her focused eyes on Pawniard, lowering her hand to the floor.

“Well, June? What did it say?” Courtney asked lazily, her eyes on the floor.

June turned to Courtney, the look on her face showing that she was clearly contemplating doing something bad to her. She looked away to Samantha.

“Did you understand her?” Samantha’s face showed deep concern.

June nodded. “Of course. Pawniard told me that she was hunting with the other Pawniard in her pack. The Pokemon they were after attacked back and she was the one who took the hit. She said it was a Fire type move. The leader Bisharp urged her to keep up the chase, and she tried to, but she was too weak and she fell behind and got lost. She collapsed from exhaustion, and a long time after that, you appeared.”

“Is that true, Pawniard?” Samantha asked the Pokemon.

Pawniard turned to Samantha.

BANG!!!

We all turned to the front door with short screams as it flew open with a loud noise.

“Who’s that?” Courtney leaped to her feet.

She was the only one who got to speak before several tiny figures ran into the house.

The next thing I knew, I was lying on my back, struggling in pain against something that was digging into my body. “Oooowwww! What’s going on?” I wailed and turned my head and saw Courtney and June tied up from their feet to their shoulders with thick rope, squirming on the floor like worms, screaming in surprise, looking around frantically.

Ella and Trixa were also tied up, but they were wrapped up in the chairs they were sitting in, trying to break free.

“Hey! What is this?” Ella struggled against the rope.

“Who did this?” Courtney screamed with panic.

“This really hurts!” Trixa groaned.

I looked down at my own body and realized that I was also wrapped up with rope around my entire body except for my head, the material cutting into my skin, even through my clothes.

“Pawniard!” Samantha shouted.

I looked towards her and gasped.

Samantha was also wrapped with rope, but not like how June, Courtney, Trixa, Ella, and I were tied up. Samantha’s hands were tied tightly behind her back and her legs were wrapped together. She was also surrounded by a few Pawniard!

“Samantha! How many Pawniard do you have here?” I called out to her.

“None of these are mine!” Samantha called back. “I don’t understand what they’re doing here at all!”

Groaning in pain from the extreme tightness of the ropes around me, I rolled painfully onto my side and stared at the front door that was now wide open. “Gaaaahh! This hurts!!” My teeth were gritted as I shut my eyes tight, rolling back to face Samantha. Once I was able to see her, I knew I wouldn’t be able to move again. The rope was just too tight on my body. Moving was adding far too much pain for me.

“Wait a minute!” Trixa said excitedly. “Are we playing cops and robbers?”

“Pawniard!” One of the Pawniard raised one of its hands that were just sharp blades, and it brought the blade down and sliced at Samantha’s face.

Blood splattered on the floor at the same time Samantha screamed from the merciless slash.

Not even a second had passed since the first attack before the other five Pawniard stabbed at her chest, slashed at her arms, and cut into her face without hesitation.

I closed my eyes tightly after the first couple of seconds, at the same time that the screams from the girls came out as blood spurted out everywhere. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my breakfast down, my throat stinging from the flavor that was forcing its way up from my stomach. No. I can’t vomit, I told myself. Keep it down. I swallowed again, but the screams around me made it hard for me to concentrate on not feeling nauseous. June, Ella, Courtney, Trixa, Samantha, and even the yells from the Pawniard as they attacked Samantha, made me wish I had been born deaf. My body gave a strong shake, and something rose up from my throat. I tried to swallow it down, but I failed to swallow a thing. My mind was all I had left. I tried to just will away the urge to puke my brains out.

The cries of the girls were the only sounds I heard from the house now, accompanied by some heavy breathing from the Pawniard.

If none of these are her Pawniard, then where is her Pawniard? I wondered, afraid to open my eyes. My eyes tried to open, but I couldn’t bear to view the results of what had been done to Samantha, and I couldn’t take the pain to roll to my other side so I didn’t have to see it.

“Pawniard…” Samantha groaned weakly.

“Pawniard!”

“Pawniaaaaaard!”

Several more shouts from the Pawniard were heard, and Samantha shrieked loudly, which triggered more screams from the other girls.

The cries finally lessened, and soon, all I heard were the whimpers and cries from the girls.

A low noise by the door made my eyes open against my will. “AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!” I shut my eyes from the sight I had just seen, and my body trembled in terror. Oh, no! No! NO! My scream was joined by Trixa’s scream, and I heard June, Courtney, and Ella gasp.

Footsteps entered the house.

What is that? I wondered in a panic, afraid to open my eyes. Screams from the girls around me made my eyes open, and I screamed again as I saw the bloody sight in front of me.

Samantha was mostly drenched in her own blood, shivering on her back in the middle of a surrounding puddle of it.

The Pawniard around her were spotted in her blood, standing in the slowly widening puddle, breathing heavily over their victim, keeping their eyes on her.

That was when I spotted the lone Pawniard on the floor, away from the group, laying on its back.

The footsteps got closer.

“Samantha!” I said loudly. “Can you hear me?”

Her face was running blood nonstop. She didn’t answer me. She didn’t move.

The Pawniard on its back slowly rolled over onto its front, and shakily pushed its hands into the floor to push itself upward.

What’s with that Pawniard? I questioned, staring at it. Why isn’t it with the others? My eyes widened in realization.

The single Pawniard shakily got up, but then collapsed to the floor.

“Samantha’s!” I whispered. “Aahh!” I screamed as something landed on the floor right in front of my face.

Trixa screamed once again at my scream.

My eyes trailed up the metallic, hoof-like foot of what had appeared before me.

The creature had shiny, red thighs that expanded greatly at the knees and shrunk considerably as they reached the torso. Encircling the torso were two blades that gave the appearance of a ribcage. Its red shoulders expanded out slightly over its arms, its white, metallic hands pointing out at Samantha. Its round, red and black head was topped with a golden, double-headed axe blade.

“Bisharp…” I whispered.

Samantha’s body shook once.

Sharp blades appeared from Bisharp’s arms, and it stepped towards Samantha. “Bisharp… Bishaaaarp!”

Ella, Courtney, and Trixa joined in a long shriek of bloody murder.

Samantha shook again.

“Bisharp, don’t!!” I heard June scream over the high-pitched voices of the other girls. “Please! Don’t kill her! She saved that Pawniard! Samantha has kept her safe all this time!”

“Pawniard!” One of the Pawniard surrounding Samantha turned to June and raised one of its blades into the air threateningly. It took a step towards June.

The girls got quiet at the deadly motion made by the Pawniard.

“Pawniard!” The weakened Pawniard ran forward and stood in front of Samantha, holding out her arms as she looked up at Bisharp, breathing hard. She shook her head. “Pawniard! Pawn! Pawniard! Pawniard!”

Samantha stirred once again.

“Bisharp…” The Bisharp that looked ready to attack, stood still.

“Pawniard! Pawniard… Pawniard!” Samantha’s Pawniard said. “Pawn! Pawn! Pawn!”

“Pawniard!” The Pawniard that was pointing its blade at June cried out angrily, looking up at Bisharp while pointing strongly at Samantha’s Pawniard with its other blade.

Bisharp stared at Samantha, but it didn’t speak a word.

“They’ve been trying to return your Pawniard back to you for the past couple of days!” June explained. “Please, just go! Everything’s alright! You don’t have to hurt her! She’s done nothing wrong!!”

The one Pawniard that had spoken to Bisharp, turned to June, its blades still in the air. It then looked at the female Pawniard that belonged to Samantha.

“Pawniard! Pawniard!” Samantha’s Pawniard nodded quickly.

“Pawn!” The solo Pawniard suddenly leaped at the female Pawniard and swiped at her, knocking her back!

The Pawniard that was swung at stumbled back from the hit and dropped to her side.

Me and the girls in my group gasped, but I couldn’t tell if Samantha had said anything.

Samantha didn’t even look like she was alive other than the infrequent shake her body would give every minute or so.

“Bisharp…” Bisharp stepped closer to Samantha.

“Bisharp! Please!!” June begged.

“Pawniard!” The Pawniard who had attacked Samantha’s Pawniard suddenly ran forward and pressed its blade against June’s throat. From how hard it was shoving that deadly blade into June’s neck, I was surprised her neck hadn’t already started bleeding.

June’s eyes were as wide as plates as she was silenced, her eyes on the Pawniard.

Bisharp raised both arms and crossed them in front of it, looking down at Samantha. “Bisharp…”

It’s really going to kill her… I thought in disbelief. This dying woman, who did nothing but save an injured Pawniard, is now going to pay for her good deed. And her Pawniard isn’t even able to convince the others to stop.

I heard horrified whimpers from the girls around me, June turning her eyes to Bisharp as the Pawniard challenging her life watched its leader deliver the final blow, the other five Pawniard that had attacked Samantha, also watching.

Samantha’s Pawniard looked up as she tried to stand up straight.

Samantha suddenly coughed hard. Blood flew from her mouth, and to my surprise, her eyes opened! “Please.” She sputtered out blood as she spoke, and I could see the trail of a pair of tears roll down her cheeks from her blue eyes, splitting the blood on her face where it ran down, but the constantly running blood quickly covered the cleaned trail on her face. More tears maneuvered down her face, mixing quickly with the blood. “I… love her… That’s… All I ever… did… I loved her…” Samantha coughed again, choking on blood.

“Bisharp!” Bisharp’s blades glowed light blue, and it leaned in quickly at Samantha.

Samantha’s eyes closed.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. BISHARP WOULDN’T! I roared in my head.

“Pawniard!” The weakened Pawniard leaped in front of Samantha’s body. Her eyes closed as she prepared for the Guillotine attack to hit.

“Biiiish!!” Bisharp slammed right into Pawniard with the loud, sharp CLANG! of metal against metal, and sent the tiny Pokemon flying back, tumbling over Samantha’s bloody body and collapsing behind her.

“Pawniaaaaaard…” Pawniard moaned with her eyes closed.

“Bisharp!” Bisharp stood up straight and looked down at the Pawniard it had attacked, a stunned look on its face.

The Pawniard flinched and then shook her head. Her eyes fluttered open, and she gazed up at Bisharp, seemingly barely able to keep her eyes open.

“Bisharp! Bisharp!” Bisharp screamed angrily at Pawniard.

Pawniard shoved one blade into the floor and pushed herself up, holding herself up by her arm. She shook her head, and as she looked up at the leader Bisharp, tears dripped to the floor from her eyes. “Pawniard… Pawniard. Pawn. Pawniard.”

Bisharp kept its gaze on Pawniard.

Pawniard groaned in pain as she shoved her other blade into the floor to balance herself. She then yanked her blades up and quivered weakly in front of the Bisharp.

Bisharp continued staring silently at Pawniard.

The other Pawniard had their eyes on Bisharp, waiting to see what their leader would say or do.

“Bisharp.” Bisharp’s blades retracted back into its arms, and it pointed to the front door.

All of the Pawniard, except for the weakened, female Pawniard, all cried out at Bisharp’s order.

“Bisharp!” Bisharp pointed sharply at the door again.

Five of the Pawniard that had attacked Samantha went silent and they turned and walked towards the front door.

Only one Pawniard refused to follow. The one who had been at June’s throat with its blade. The one who had attacked Samantha’s Pawniard. It moved away from June and ran towards Samantha. “Pawniard! Pawniard!” It shook its head and pointed at the woman, stopping just a foot away from her, its blade urging to stab her throat. “Pawn! Pawn! Paaaaaaawn!!”

“BISHARP! BISHARP!” Bisharp took a step towards Pawniard that nearly made me try and run away!

“Pawn!” Pawniard backed up, its frightened eyes on Bisharp, and then it glanced at Samantha before running after the other Pawniard headed for the front door.

Bisharp turned to the female Pawniard. “Bish… Bisharp!”

Pawniard simply nodded and stumbled weakly, but quickly, away from Samantha.

Five of the Pawniard marched out of the house.

The female Pawniard was walking alongside the Pawniard that the Bisharp had to yell at last, and she looked back at Samantha.

As Samantha’s Pawniard came to a stop, the other Pawniard also stopped and turned to look at Samantha. “Pawniard!” The roughneck Pawniard slammed a blade against the back of the hurt Pawniard’s head and she fell to the ground.

Bisharp walked towards the two, and the Pawniard that had attacked Samantha’s Pawniard cried out in fear and ran out the door.

The last Pawniard got to her feet slowly and started to look at Samantha again, but Bisharp pulled back its foot and kicked her out the door.

The Pawniard shouted out helplessly.

“Bish.” Bisharp vanished from sight.

Samantha startled me with a strong cough. “Thank you!” she choked out, crying openly. “Pawniard! Thank you! Don’t… forget me! I love you!” She continued to cough and cry at the same time, struggling to breath. She continued this mixture of noise until her words were no longer audible, and it sounded as if she was mumbling underwater. It was only seconds after that before she went completely still.

And silent.

*

My eyes were stuck to my paper Town Map, making sure we were all headed in the right direction on our way to Ghyst Town. The sun was setting, but I could still see the map just fine.

Courtney was the closest to me, walking behind me.

Ella was behind Courtney, holding Trixa’s hand.

June was behind Ella and Trixa.

Nobody was in the mood to talk.

The only thing on my mind was exactly what I knew nobody wanted to think about for the rest of their lives, but that we’d all be haunted by, forever.

After all the screams that had come from Samantha’s house, it was a surprise the police hadn’t arrived sooner. When they did arrive, what felt like hours after the Bisharp and Pawniard had escaped, it was far too late to stop them.

Samantha was still alive when the ambulance had taken her away, but there was no telling if she’d survive or not.

Instead of going back to Virbank City’s Pokemon Center to get some sleep, it was unanimously agreed that we just keep moving. Whether we went to the next Gym, or just walked into eternity, the last thing any of us was interested in was sleeping, or remaining in Virbank City.

The city landscape around us had given way to grassy plains by the time we reached 38th Street, and now, we were on Route 40, walking down a dirt road, cars traveling past us in both directions.

As I thought about what we had been through today, I found out what terrified me the most about it all.

I thought about Team Solace.

This attack from the Bisharp and Pawniard had nothing to do with Team Solace at all. And yet, at the same time, it did.

Team Solace was trying so hard to prove how dangerous Pokemon were by blowing them up and attacking people and using unfair methods to make Pokemon seem guilty.

But, today.

A Pokemon had been separated from its group, taken care of by a caring woman, and that Pokemon’s gang came after the woman, unprovoked, and left her for dead. They even abused the little Pawniard that had been saved, afterwards.

The attack Samantha went through was completely unjustified.

It was wrong.

And it was done by Pokemon.

I shivered with disgust, knowing that this would be all over the news and would only add fuel to the already blazing fire between Pokemon Trainers...

Team Solace...

And those in the middle of the flames who were still picking sides.