“Sawk!” Sawk stood up straight, looking directly at me.

“Sawk! It’s great to finally meet you,” I greeted him with a smile. “It’s been such a long time coming! I’m Gary, your Trainer.” I turned to the others behind me. “These are our friends, both human and Pokemon alike. This group right here are my own Pokemon, while the others belong to the other people here.”

Ruko’s Tyranitar, Darmanitan, Volcarona, Rampardos, Excadrill, and Hydreigon stared calmly at my Sawk and greeted him, Hydreigon roaring intimidatingly.

Trixa’s Pansear, Pignite, Axew, Leavanny, Ducklett, and Panpour nodded and waved happily at Sawk.

Courtney’s Sceptile, Maractus, Swoobat, Stoutland, Scraggy, and Amoonguss cheerfully greeted Sawk.

Ella’s Serperior, Pachirisu, Deino, Cofagrigus, and Braviary also greeted Sawk warmly.

Shiftry kept silent as she gave Sawk a serious glare.

June’s Pikachu, Blitzle, Ampharos, Vaporeon, Lanturn, Galvantula, Manectric, Magnezone, and Rotom seemed pleased to meet Sawk.

June’s Electivire had been sitting on the ground, but once I had sent out my Sawk, he stood up and glared intensely at him.

My Drifblim, Weepinbell, Dugtrio, and Unfezant were pleased to meet the latest arrival to our team.

Elgyem showed no emotion as he watched Sawk.

Ella stood near a tree, staring at Sawk with a smile.

Trixa brushed back her hair with both hands, squinting at Sawk with a broad smile.

Ruko, June, and Courtney stood relatively close to each other, smiling expectantly at Sawk.

“Sawk!” Sawk bowed before me, and then he bowed before the others.

We all turned to each other before we faced Sawk and bowed back to him.

“Sawk, it’s awesome to have you on my team,” I told him. “I hope you’ll enjoy it here. We’re on our way to the Pokemon League. We train hard in this group and give it our all!” I extended my hand towards Sawk. “How does that sound?”

“Sawk!” Sawk nodded and gripped my hand in a crushing grip.

“Yyaaaaahh!!” I cried out as my hand cracked in the Pokemon’s grip, and I dropped to my knees immediately. “Okay! Great! Get off!!”

Sawk released me instantly.

I fell to the ground and held my sore hand that had been destroyed by Sawk’s handshake. I actually wanted to cry!

“Gary! What happened?” Courtney asked, concerned.

“Nothing,” I moaned. “Just wasn’t ready for that tight of a grip.” My eyes were tearing up, but I stayed strong for my Pokemon and got to my knees, staring at my hand as I cradled it in my other hand.

“Sawk,” Sawk said seriously, looking at me.

“Well, at least we know how tough you are, huh?” I forced a smile, climbing to my feet.

“Sawk…” Sawk replied, keeping his eyes on me.

“A Sawk is such a cool capture!” Ruko said excitedly. “How cool that I get to be here to meet it for the first time!”

“How long has it been since you last saw this Sawk?” Courtney asked.

I turned to her.

“Like, how long ago did you catch him?”

“Hey, kid!” Row called out.

I turned to him in surprise.

“Catch.” Row tossed a Poke Ball at me with one hand.

I caught it with both hands and looked down at it in surprise.

“It’s been a few weeks, I guess,” I mumbled, and then I looked back at Sawk, who was staring back at me coldly.

“Wow. A meeting between you two has definitely been overdue,” Courtney said.

I nodded. “Well, Sawk, I’m happy to have you with me. I’ll bet we’ll get used to each other over time and find a groove that just you and I have for each other. I welcome you again! Return, Sawk!” I was just about to lift his Poke Ball to return him.

“Shift!!”

“Vire?”

I looked up to see Shiftry and Electivire growling at each other.

“Shiftry, what are you doing?” Ella called to her Pokemon.

“Electivire, retur-AAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!” June collapsed to the ground as Electivire shocked her with Thunder. Her hair stood up high as she twitched on the ground, sparking with electricity.

June’s other Pokemon looked down fearfully at June and then up at Electivire, unsure of what to do.

All the other Pokemon looked around at each other in confusion, backing up several steps away from Shiftry and Electivire.

Ella, Courtney, and Ruko stood their ground, their eyes on the two Pokemon ready to face-off.

Trixa scooped up her Poke Balls. “Everybody, come back! Please!” She returned her six Pokemon and then backed away, looking scared.

“Shiftry, that’s enough! Return!” Ella removed a Poke Ball from her waist.

“Shiftry…” Shiftry turned around to Ella and waved a leafy hand at her.

A huge gust of wind blew from Shiftry and Ella screamed as the wind hit her, lifting her off of her feet! She shrieked even louder as she flew around in the air for a moment before her back slammed into a tree trunk. She gasped in pain and slid down to the ground. She went silent and hunched over.

“Ella!” I ran to her side. “Ella! Are you okay?” I knelt down next to her on both knees and gripped her shoulders in my hands, lifting her up and leaning her against me.

Ella groaned and rested her head on my chest.

“Ella, it’s okay,” I told her softly. “Are you hurt?”

“Yeah, Gary,” she moaned, her hair covering her face. “I was just tossed into a freaking tree. Oooohh…”

I wrapped my arms around her and held her close.

Shiftry cried out angrily and raised her arms into the air, her body outlined in turquoise as glowing green leaves appeared around her feet and rose to her hands. As the turquoise around her body faded away, she pointed her hands at Electivire and the leaves fired at him.

Electivire smirked for second and then charged into the attack head-on. “Vire, Vire, Vire,” Electivire said easily as he was hit by the powerful Leaf Storm, ignoring the damage. He pulled back a fist and continued running at Shiftry.

Shiftry’s eyes widened in surprise as Electivire ran through her attack. “Shift!”

Electivire’s fist burst into flames and he let out a roar as he swung at Shiftry, hitting her with an uppercut of his Fire Punch.

“Shiiiiiiiiift!!” Shiftry flew into the air.

“Shiftry!” Ella pushed away from me and shakily climbed to her feet, watching Shiftry soar.

June managed to her knees and looked up at Shiftry as well.

Electivire kept his eyes on Shiftry, smiling at the work he had done.

“Shift! Shift!” Shiftry bounced twice on the ground, grunting with each bounce, and then she laid still.

“Shiftry!” Ella ran to her Pokemon’s side and placed her hands on her. “Shiftry, just come back, okay? I can’t stand to see you getting picked on like this!” She whipped her head back and glared at June. “I hate bullies!”

June gasped lightly, staring at Ella. “But…”

“Return!” Ella returned her Shiftry without a struggle, and then she got to her feet and glared at Electivire.

“Electivire…” Electivire spoke softly, holding a victorious smile on his face as he stared back at Ella.

She turned to June. “Enough is enough, June! I agreed to allow your Electivire to eat with the rest of my Pokemon, but he has once again proven to be out of control! I am not letting my Pokemon around that thing again!”

June held out her Poke Ball and silently returned her rather pleased looking Electivire. She nodded her head sadly and lowered it. “I understand. Your Pokemon won’t see my Electivire ever again.” She closed her eyes and her head dropped even further.

Ella sighed. “June, I’m sure my Pokemon will see your Electivire again, but, maybe during a battle or something. Not during our more peaceful times. Do you understand what I mean?”

June sniffled. “Of course I do,” her voice shook. “I’m just so… Ashamed!” She covered her face with her hands and turned her back to Ella.

Courtney crossed her arms, staring at June.

“June! What’s wrong?” Trixa asked, walking over to her.

“Oh, no! Don’t cry, June!” Ella walked over to June and got down to her knees next to her. She placed a hand on her shoulder. “I didn’t mean to make you cry. I’m just worried about our Pokemon fighting like this.”

“No, it’s not your fault,” June sobbed, wiping at her eyes as she sniffled. “It’s my own. All of this is my fault. I screwed up a lot with my Electivire. These are the consequences. I have to figure out a way around them on my own.”

“June, what exactly happened between you two?” Ella asked June.

“Yeah, that’d be nice to know,” Courtney nodded with a snotty tone.

June glared at Courtney with watery eyes.

“So, Electivire won’t listen to you, Juni?” Ruko asked curiously.

June lowered her gaze to the ground and nodded. “Yeah…” she whispered.

“You can tell us, June,” Ella smiled. “We’re all friends here, right?” She smiled at the group around her.

“Yeah! And I can totally keep a secret! Let us know what’s up, Juni!” Ruko said eagerly. “I bet that, collectively, we can come up with a solution to the problem!”

“It’s not really that simple,” June said in a low voice. “I’ve tried everything I could do to work on our relationship. The solution to this is simply time. I can’t force him to just understand my feelings. I need to work on this. It’s just best that you all let me handle this on my own.”

Nobody said anything after this.

The sun beamed strongly from a sky filled with several white clouds, beams hitting the pavement before us, away from our group that was sitting on the crisp grass that swayed gently against a sudden, smooth breeze that was very welcome on this hot day.

“Maybe Electivire won’t listen to you because it’s a Kanto Pokemon and you’re in the Unova region,” Trixa suggested suddenly.

Everyone looked at Trixa in dismay.

I closed my eyes tightly. Can’t you just shut up? I thought. For, like, ever?!

June sighed. “Trixa, Electabuzz is from Kanto,” June told Trixa in a tired voice. “Elekid was originally spotted in Johto, whereas Electivire was first discovered in Sinnoh. I guess this makes the origins of the Electivire line a bit of a mystery, and, really, it’s hard to say where any Pokemon originates from, but, the region a Pokemon is from doesn’t make it listen any better or worse if it’s taken into a new region. Electivire hasn’t listened to me since I evolved him in Kanto.”

“Oh.” Trixa shrugged and smiled. “Maybe he just doesn’t like your red hair!”

June squinted silently, angrily, at Trixa.

I looked away from the two girls and at my Sawk, who was looking over at Elgyem.

Elgyem held a blank look on his face while Sawk stared back seriously.

“You two alright?” I called to them cautiously.

Neither Pokemon looked away from each other, nor moved. Sawk finally grunted and looked towards me, but Elgyem kept staring at him.

“Elgyem sure is a funny little Pokemon,” Ruko said. She took a couple of steps closer to him. “What moves does it know?”

“The ones I taught him,” I answered sharply, and I returned him to his Poke Ball, not liking the hungry look in Ruko’s eyes. I suddenly found myself remembering why I disliked Ruko so much.

“Huh?” She turned to me and a smile slowly crossed her face. “I wouldn’t mind making a trade with you for that Elgyem. How about my Excadrill? It has a very Adamant personality and knows-”

“I have an Excadrill. No, thanks,” I interrupted quickly.

Ruko continued smiling. “Wait! I’d even be willing to trade my Tyranitar for it! It knows Earthquake-”

“Ruko, I don’t want your stupid Pokemon!” I yelled, losing my temper.

All eyes now turned to me.

Ruko’s Pokemon were all glaring at me furiously.

Ruko’s eyes were wide with surprise. “Hey… That was really uncalled for. What’s your problem, Gary?”

“Ruko, I am never going to trade my Pokemon over to somebody like you! Ever!” I was past my breaking point now. The gates that had held back so much had finally opened, and there was no going back. “No Pokemon should be made into some kind of… tool for you to use to win battles with, and then traded off without hesitation when you see something else you like!”

“I shouldn’t be using Pokemon to win battles?” Ruko crossed her arms angrily. “You’re saying I shouldn’t be trading for Pokemon that I want?”

“NO!” I screamed louder than I had intended. I cleared my throat and spoke in a lower, but still frustrated, tone. “That’s not what I mean! You only use Pokemon to battle! That’s not right! Don’t you care about how they feel? Pokemon have feelings, Ruko. They’re not just to be used to fight. They’re our friends! We’re supposed to work together and love each other and… enjoy the journey and each other’s company and stuff…” I could feel that I wasn’t getting through to her. I wasn’t even convincing myself that I was producing a good argument, but I could feel in my heart that what I was saying was true, even if the words weren’t coming out exactly how I wanted them to. “Pokemon aren’t… They’re…”

Ruko’s anger seemed to be fading as confusion showed itself.

Courtney brushed aside her hair from her face and held it behind her head, pulling it tightly as she watched me.

June had her eyes on the ground, brushing her hair down with her hands as she listened to me.

Ella’s eyes remained on me, waiting for me to finish speaking my point of view.

Trixa was far behind Ruko, her head against a tree, her arms also wrapped around it as she stared down sadly.

“Pokemon are supposed to be our partners, not our play things…” I tried slowly. “I mean, like, we can’t just-”

“Gary, I don’t understand what you’re trying to say,” Ruko spoke gently. “Pokemon are battled all the time. You obtained your Badges by battling Gym Leaders. You and I have battled before. Trainers trade for Pokemon every day. How can you say that’s wrong? It’s what connects people from all over the world! People, and Pokemon!”

“I know that!” I shouted with exasperation, looking into Ruko’s eyes.

“Then what are you trying to say??”

“That we should battle!” I blurted out before I had even considered the idea. “One more time, Ruko! You and me, right now! We’ll have us a full six-on-six battle, right now! I challenge you, Ruko!”

June covered her mouth in shock, most of her hair still pointed to the sky.

Ella cocked her head, her alluring, slanted eyes squinting at me with interest.

Courtney held a stunned look on her face, releasing her hair.

Trixa looked up at me.

All of the Pokemon in the area were staring at Ruko and I.

“I’ll prove to you that your Pokemon aren’t as tough as you think, Ruko,” I spoke boldly.

All of Ruko’s Pokemon began to growl and snarl at me.

My Weepinbell, Dugtrio, Drifblim, and Unfezant yelled back at them.

Sawk only stared at Ruko’s Pokemon solemnly, but he didn’t speak.

Hydreigon roared loudly, making me have to swallow my heart back down my throat in order to breathe.

My Pokemon growled back at the Dragon, though more reluctantly than before.

My eyes remained on Hydreigon before turning back to Ruko. “I’m sure your Pokemon are tough, but I’ll beat every last one of them! I won’t lose to a Trainer like you! Not again! My Pokemon are raised with love and care, and I wouldn’t trade a single one of them for any Pokemon in the world!” At that moment, I was hit with a memory.

My Beedrill.

I’d traded him away for a Seadra in order to help a girl evolve her. The evolution went through, but then an attack by Team Solace destroyed the trade machine, and the girl ran away in fear with my Beedrill, leaving me with her Kingdra.

I closed my eyes. This was a thought I was haunted by for a long time, and though I had never forgotten my Beedrill, it was a moment in time I had learned to live with better. I’ll win this battle for you, Beedrill, I thought. My eyes opened and I turned to my Pokemon.

They were all staring back at me.

I nodded firmly.

“Unfezant!” Unfezant flapped his wings from the ground.

“Bell!! Bell!!” Weepinbell bounced strongly.

“Triooooo!!” Dugtrio told me determinedly.

“Sawk!” Sawk said firmly, his hands at his sides.

“Bliiim!” Drifblim reached her appendages towards me.

I smiled at my Pokemon. Yeah, I nodded again. We’ll win this one together. I turned to Ruko, who was staring back at me silently. My smile faded away and I grabbed my Poke Balls in my hands. “Return!”

“Come on back, everybody!” June recalled her Pokemon.

“Come back, now!” Ella said quickly, retrieving her Pokemon.

“Return, team!” Ruko said loudly. She stared at me with a mix of anger and determination. “I never claimed to be the greatest Pokemon Trainer in the world, you know, Gary.”

I didn’t know how to respond, so I just stayed quiet, focusing on Ruko.

“I just want to own the greatest Pokemon out there, and use them how I feel comfortable,” Ruko went on. “I own about seventy or so Pokemon, on my own, that I captured with my Pokemon. This isn’t counting the ones I traded for. And I love them all, too! Pokemon are really cool, and the journey with them has been tons of fun. And the memories are deepened by the many trades I’ve made. I won’t let you talk to me how you’ve done just now. You talk about how the way I raise Pokemon is so wrong, but the way you’re treating me is what’s wrong, Gary! I have a right to make trades, when I want, with whoever I want, and for whatever reasons I want! I’m me, and you’re you! I can make my own decisions with my Pokemon and I have the right to! I’m not my mommy’s little baby boy anymore, and you’re not my dad! I’m my own person, now! You-!”

“WAIT!” My eyes nearly bulged out of my head as I looked at Ruko and waved my arms frantically. “Hold on a second, Ruko!”

“What?” Ruko asked with wide eyes.

I opened my mouth, but I couldn’t think up a way to say what I was thinking in a respectful enough manner, and my mouth closed.

“Ruko, you’re a boy…?” June stepped closer to me, saying what I had been trying to say, squinting at Ruko.

Courtney also walked over, stopping at my other side, staring at Ruko like some kind of alien.

“Wait, what?” Ella stared at Ruko in shock. “Really? I mean, well, really??”

Ruko burst out laughing and leaned back, wrapping his or her arms around his or her stomach. He or she brushed aside his or her long hair as he or she leaned forward and then stood up straight. “Aw, man! This is too funny! Everyone always gets confused. Believe it or not, I’m a dude, y’all!” Ruko laughed again.

The planet started spinning rapidly, and I felt like I was bound to fall into the grass beneath me, face-first.

“Really, Ruko??” June asked in disbelief.

“I wouldn’t lie about that!” Ruko smiled at June.

“So… You’re girlfriend…” I started.

Ruko laughed louder than ever. “Oh, wow! Let me explain, please! I’m intersexual!”

Nobody had anything to say as we all looked at Ruko in confusion.

Ruko sighed and shook his head, continuing to smile at us. “Basically… The biology of my person is reminiscent of both genders, so I don’t really fit in just one category alone, though, it’s reeeeally a lot more complex than that,” he smiled at us. “I wasn’t fully sure about how I identified myself at first. When I began my journey, I felt that I was a girl, but I’ve come to realize that that was society telling me that just because I like this color, or am interested in certain things, that I was a girl, but that’s just stupid. I’ve come to define for myself who I am by spending time exploring this big, beautiful world as a Pokemon Trainer, and I now feel like I am more in connection with a male, but, I don’t mind if you think of me as a female. As long as we’re all friends, here, okay?”

Nobody said anything.

“I always thought you were a boy,” Trixa said.

Ruko turned to Trixa, laughing.

I suddenly wished I had however much money it would cost to purchase a rocket to fly as far away from Trixa as I could possibly go. I didn’t even want a space suit.

“So, now that that’s out of the way, you still want that six-on-six battle, Gary?” Ruko asked me.

My eyes widened. “Yes! Please!” I glared at Ruko. “Are you ready?”

“You bet, Gar-bear!” Ruko smiled and nodded.

“No surprise anymore, I’m judging…” June said as she walked over to us.

Ruko and I took several steps apart from each other.

“This will be a six-on-six match between Ruko and Gary,” June declared. “Whoever loses all of their Pokemon, is out! Substitutions are allowed, and there’s no time limit. Begin the battle!”

“Hydreigon, here it goes!” Ruko threw his Poke Ball.

This ball was in a strange pattern I didn’t recognize and didn’t get a good look at before it revealed the Pokemon inside.

“Hydreigooooonnn!” Hydreigon growled in a deep voice.

Figures, I thought angrily, glaring at his intimidating Pokemon. He would start with that thing! My eyebrows furrowed even more. And? Who cares?? I can beat any Pokemon he owns! I have to! But what do I start off with to beat a Dark and Dragon type like this? Drifblim… No way. Elgyem… No. Weepinbell against a Dragon? I can’t. Unfezant? Dugtrio? Not against that obvious flyer. And then Sawk… I grabbed a Poke Ball and gripped it tight. We can do it. We’ll battle the way Ruko can’t. As a team. He doesn’t have the bond with his Pokemon to win like that! “Sawk, I’m starting off with you!! LET’S DO THIS!!”

“Sawk!” Sawk stood up and bowed before his opponent.

Hydreigon roared back at him.

Sawk relaxed his body and took a karate pose.

“Feel free to have the first move, Gary,” Ruko smiled at me.

I hesitated, looking up at Hydreigon. My teeth grit tightly and I glared at my opponent. “Alright!” I pulled out my Pokedex and checked out Sawk’s information. “Hmm.” I nodded. “Right! I think I get the moves.” I looked up at Sawk. “Let’s knock that thing down with Close Combat!”

Sawk ran forward with a strong call and leaped into the air. He spun in place and kicked his foot out, knocking Hydreigon right in the middle head. As Hydreigon roared from its top head and fell to the ground, Sawk sent out a flurry of punches and kicks all the way down and then landed next to the fallen foe.

“Wow! That was incredible!” Ruko commended us.

Just stay down, I thought angrily, my eyes on Hydreigon. Don’t get up!

“Now use Outrage!” Ruko said.

Everyone gasped, including me.

“Not Outrage!” Courtney uttered.

Hydriegon’s wings remained essentially motionless as it ascended into the air. Its eyes were now glowing red, and its body was outlined in red. With a roar that made me stumble back against my will, Sawk looking up in shock, Hydreigon flew forward.

“Sawk, get out of the way!” I yelled.

Hydreigon was an enormous, dark bullet as it shot forward and tackled Sawk.

“Saaaawk!” Sawk tumbled along the ground helplessly and stopped, his face in the grass.

“Sawk, get up! We’ve got this one!” I begged him.

“He’s out…” June said softly.

“That’s not possible!” I raged at June. What I had wanted to scream was, “Shut up!” I held it in and managed to change the words around right before they came out.

June stared back at me with pity. “I’m sorry, but Sawk is unable to fight, Gary.”

“But… But…” I swallowed and looked down at Sawk. He still hadn’t budged from where he landed. “It was just one hit…” I already felt bad about this battle.

“That was a good start, Gary! I could tell that Close Combat took a lot out of Hydreigon!” Ruko nodded with a big smile.

He isn’t being condescending at all, I realized as I looked at Ruko’s face. He’s being sincere. He isn’t being a jerk to me or anything. He’s just got a really positive, good sportsmanship-like attitude. He’s a good kid… I felt bad about how I’d treated Ruko, and how I’d thought of him. I may not agree with his way of doing things, but that doesn’t mean he’s a bad person. I closed my eyes for a moment before looking at Sawk. “Sawk, you did your best. Come on back!” I returned him and slipped my Pokedex into my pocket as I stared at the Dragon type that roared and circled the air above us. Alright. Let’s see it take on another flyer, then, I thought as I grabbed Unfezant’s Poke Ball. “Unfezant, it’s up to you!” I threw his Poke Ball.

“Fezaaaaaaaaant!!” Unfezant cawed threateningly.

“HYDREEEIIIGOOOON!!” Hydreigon roared back, and then flew for Unfezant.

“Unfezant, fly above and then hit with Air Slash!”

“Fezant!” Unfezant flapped his wings and flew high into the air.

“HYYYYY!!” Hydreigon turned sharply, not losing track of Unfezant, and flew straight up after my bird.

“Unfeeez!!” Unfezant squawked in shock as he looked down and realized that the Dragon type was right behind him. “FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ!!!” Unfezant was slammed into by Hydreigon and thrown off course, immediately tumbling for the ground.

“UNFEZANT!” I screamed.

“FEZ!” Unfezant’s scream was short as he crashed into the ground.

“Unfezant, don’t give in! Get up! GET UP!!” I screamed shrilly, and my foot slammed angrily to the ground.

June’s hand rose to her mouth as she stared at Unfezant.

Trixa’s hands rose to her cheeks, her mouth wide, staring at Unfezant with a stunned look.

“Uuuuunnn…” Unfezant moaned weakly and his head lifted, his body shaking painfully.

“Unfezant?” I gasped.

June gasped, shaking her head. She caught my stare and froze, staring back at me.

“Unfezant is still up!” Trixa pointed.

“Yeah! I remember that Unfezant! That one just keeps on going!” Ruko said with excitement. “That thing is the toughest Pokemon I may have ever seen! Man! I want that one! You think we could trade, Gary? Pleeeeeeeease??”

I looked up at Ruko, but I didn’t answer him. My eyes lowered back to my Pokemon, and I met with his eyes. “Unfezant.”

“Unfez…” Unfezant said weakly, struggling to stand up on his talons. His wings were bent, pushing himself up, and he stumbled forward a few steps. He kept his eyes on me, breathing heavily, looking ready to collapse at any second. “Unfezaaaaant!!” He stretched his wings and stood bravely, trying to show me that he was just fine.

But, no.

I smiled at Unfezant before looking up at Ruko. “Not for any Pokemon roaming this planet, Ruko.” I looked back to my Unfezant and nodded.

“Fez?” My Pokemon’s eyes widened and then relaxed. “Fezant…” Unfezant smiled back. He let out a cry as his eyes closed tight, and he dropped flat.

“Whoa! What happened to it?” Ruko gasped.

“Unfezant is unable to battle!” June said, smiling at me. “Hydreigon wins!”

“Wow! I thought it could still go on!” Ruko laughed. “Alright! Let’s see what’s gonna be next!”

“You bet,” I nodded at him. “Thanks Unfezant. Thank you very much, in more than one way.” I returned him to his Poke Ball. But, now what do I do? I wondered, looking at the raging Hydreigon. Dugtrio’s no good for this kind of opponent. Elgyem can’t face this type of Pokemon, either. Weepinbell might not hold up well against this kind of type, either. Dragons can do too many different types of moves! It’s unfair! And then there’s… Hmmm. I grabbed a Poke Ball. “I know you’ll do just fine! Weepinbell, I’m going with you!”

“Bell! Bell! Bell!” Weepinbell bounced repeatedly.

“Weepinbell, it’s time to do this! Start off with Stun Spore to keep that thing still!”

“Shake off that Confusion and let’s counter that with Scary Face!” Ruko commanded.

That was when I saw that Hydreigon was no longer outlined in red, but its eyes were still glowing. It was Confused!

“Bell!” Weepinbell leaned his gaping mouth towards Hydreigon.

Hydreigon looked at Weepinbell and opened its jaws wide. Its eyes narrowed and it appeared as if its face had quadrupled in size!! Fangs extended from its jaws and reached out far from its mouth, and a purple tongue slid out, layered in yellow saliva. The grotesque tongue whipped at the fangs that were now dripping in a white, thick liquid. Hydreigon roared.

I screamed and fell to my knees, covering my head, ducking down in absolute terror.

I heard June shriek, as well as Courtney, Ella, and Trixa.

“Draco Meteor!” Ruko ordered.

“Wh-wh-wh-what?” I stammered, slowly lifting my head.

June had her hands over her chest, staring up at Hydreigon with horror.

Trixa was nowhere in sight.

Ella looked frozen on the spot from where she stood, a petrified look on her face.

Courtney was shaking in place, several feet further from me than she had been just a moment ago.

I shakily got to my feet, trying to focus on the battle and not the shock I was going through from Hydreigon’s Scary Face, but my heart was hurting with each beat it took, and it felt like it was going at one billion beats per second!

Hydreigon’s face now looked normal again, no longer a deformed, monstrous demon ready to devour us all in one bite, and it roared and opened its mouth, a bright orange sphere of energy charging inside of it.

The sphere was fired up into the air, where it flew higher and higher before exploding loudly and raining down spheres of energy that looked like meteors. The attack slammed into the ground, causing explosions and smoke around Weepinbell as he cried out.

I backed up, startled by the attack.

When it was all over, Weepinbell was on his back, knocked out cold.

“Weepinbell is out, and Hydreigon wins,” June said firmly, her shoulders slumped.

“Alright! Looking good so far! I still can’t believe I beat your Unfezant!” Ruko bounced excitedly. “I can’t wait to see what you’ve got planned for me next! You can do it, Gary!”

Oh, shut up, I thought grumpily. Maybe he really is being condescending. Or maybe I’m just pissed I’m losing this badly… I took a deep breath. You’ve gotta keep a cool head about this, Gary. Relax. This isn’t over! This… may be over, actually… But it doesn’t matter! I gripped Weepinbell’s Poke Ball tightly. I won’t give in. “Weepinbell, return!” I said determinedly, and I snatched up my next Poke Ball. Win or lose, we do this together, as a team! “Drifblim, you’re up next, girl!”

“Bliiim! Bliiiiiiimmm!” Drifblim hovered in the air.

Alright, we’ve got this one, I smirked, staring at Hydreigon. “Drifblim, catch that thing with Thunder Wave attack! Let’s get it!”

“Bliiiiiiiiimmmm!!” Drifblim raised her appendages and pointed them at Hydreigon as they sparked with light blue electricity.

“Hydreigon, out of the way and use Crunch!” Ruko told her Pokemon.

“Bliiiim!” Drifblim fired with Thunder Wave.

The red in Hydreigon’s eyes vanished, and it was no longer Confused. With a roar, it soared above the Thunder Wave.

“Blim! Blim! Bliiiim!” Driflblim kept trying to catch Hydreigon with Thunder Wave, but Hydreigon was too swift, dodging left, right, above, and under the attacks.

“Now go in for Crunch attack!”

“BLIIIIIMM!!” Drifblim shouted.

“HYDREIGON!” Hydreigon roared. It flew at Drifblim. “DREEEEEIIII!!!” Hydreigon grit its teeth together as it was finally hit by the Thunder Wave, stuck in the air just a couple of inches away from Drifblim. Its jaws opened wide as it roared. Suddenly, its jaws glowed white. “HYDREIGON!!” It bit into Drifblim with Crunch attack.

Drifblim’s body flashed white where she was bit, alerting me to the Critical Hit.

A loud, haunting, terrible shriek I rarely got to hear from Drifblim hit my ears, causing me to shiver with fright for a moment, and I immediately feared the worst.

Drifblim dropped.

“Drifblim is out…” June choked out the words. “I… I… I can’t believe it…”

“Gary! What are you doing out there??” Ella screamed out.

I couldn’t look away from my Drifblim. This wasn’t making any sense at all. My Drifblim was out from one hit?! No! “No. No! NO! That’s… my Drifblim. She can’t be…” I closed my eyes, unable to take what I was seeing. My Drifblim is tougher than that! She’s taken the worst of the worst hits! This isn’t right! This isn’t fair! Hot tears were burning my eyes at this point. Not my Drifblim, too! No! No!

“Blim?”

I opened my eyes immediately and wiped at the tears in them. “Drifblim?”

Drifblim was looking towards me, her eyes filled with tears. “Blim…”

I have to be strong, I immediately knew. For my Pokemon. They know when I’m upset. They know when I’m happy. They’re me. And I’m them. We’re one.

“Blim…” Drifblim looked down sadly, avoiding my stare.

Everything we go through, good or bad, we go through, together, I told myself. Every win is a win for us all. Every loss is a loss for us all, too. But… My tongue ran across my lips, and a smile crossed my face.

“Blim…?” Drifblim looked back up at me, tears rolling down her face.

“We go through it all, together, right?”

“Blim… Blim?” she replied.

“No matter what happens, we know that we did our best, and we come back better than ever, each and every time. Nothing to regret. We cry together. We laugh together. We win, and we lose; together. But we never give up, right? We give every fight everything we’ve got, every time. And this fight is far from over. The results don’t matter. It’s about how hard we tried. You tried your best, and that’s all I could ever ask for. Now, let’s stay positive for Elgyem and Dugtrio, alright?”

“Blim… Blim…” Drifblim seemed a little bit uplifted and slightly happier by my words, but then, her eyes closed and she slumped against the ground.

I nodded, my smile fading, and I held out her Dusk Ball. “Rest well, girl. You did great.” My next Poke Ball was in my hand quickly. “Elgyem, let’s give this a try…” I threw his Poke Ball with little energy. This isn’t going to work, I thought. We can’t do Psychic moves. That Hydreigon is taking out everybody with one hit. What do I do?

“Elgyem!” Elgyem cried out.

I took out my Pokedex again to check out Elgyem’s other moves, but none of them looked like they would do much against Hydreigon. Wait. My eyes lit up. Hydreigon’s not a Flying type… “Simple Beam, now!”

“Hydreigon, use your Crunch again!” Ruko repeated.

“HYDREIGON!!” Hydreigon roared and opened its jaws as it flew for Elgyem.

Elgyem raised a hand and the dots blinked on it.

Hydreigon’s jaws flashed white. “DREIGON!” It bit into Elgyem.

“ELGYYYYYYYYY!!” Elgyem screamed painfully, trapped in the jaws of the vicious looking Pokemon. His eyes closed tight, a tan colored beam flew from his hand and hit Hydreigon in the middle head.

Hydreigon dropped to the ground and then release its victim, and Elgyem fell.

“Elgyem’s out, and Hydreigon wins again.” June shoved her hands into her blue jeans pockets and kept her head down.

“One more to go! Get ready for the last Pokemon, Hydreigon,” Ruko warned.

“Gary, are you even trying?” Ella walked over to me, shaking her head at me, disbelief on her face. “What is wrong with you, Gary? Fight! Why are you battling like this?”

“Ella, I am trying!” Her words had stung me deeply. It was bad enough that I was losing badly, but now this beautiful angel was accusing me of not even trying??? Talk about a low blow!!

“It sure doesn’t look like it!” Ella said moodily. “Is there something wrong with your Pokemon or something?”

My heart was now beating in a way it never had for Ella. My heart was beating quickly, in anger. She was actually starting to tick me off, for the first time ever. “Ella, please. You’re not helping right now. I’m not trying to lose, here! He’s just… really has some powerful Pokemon.”

“What does that matter, Gary? I thought you could beat him! I thought it was about more than power! What’s June been following you around all this time for? Aren’t you like her teacher? Don’t you have anything to show? To teach us?”

Time froze in that moment.

Ella’s words were deep. Powerful. Inspiring.

I turned to June.

She was staring back at us, a surprised look on her face.

“You’re Juni’s teacher?!” Ruko asked with great surprise.

My eyes shut with frustration. “I’m… I’m just a kid from Pallet Town!” I said loudly. “I’m not anyone’s teacher! I’ve still got a lot to learn, including how to build the bond with my Pokemon! I’m nothing more than that, despite how June may feel, or anybody else! I just know that I respect my Pokemon and all that they go through. They do it just for me, and I’d do anything for them in return. I believe that kind of a bond between Pokemon and Trainer can beat all other ways to raise Pokemon! Using Pokemon you like, not just what’s strong! Figuring what Pokemon best works for you! Making friends with them all! It can’t always be about winning. There needs to be a balance. I can’t even express my feelings the way they swim through my heart, but I believe in what I feel. It doesn’t make me right, but it’s something to go by as I continue to learn and grow. With that in my heart, I can’t lose to you, Ruko!” I opened my eyes and turned to my Pokemon. “Elgyem, return!” My serious eyes focused on Ruko.

Ruko’s eyes lit up and he smiled with delight. “YES! I guess it’s time to rumble! Let’s go, Gary!”

We’ll win this one, I told myself. We’ll defeat Ruko for the first time. Today. We’ll do this for our beliefs. We’ll do this together, as a team. I grabbed Dugtrio’s Poke Ball tightly in my hand. We’ll win this battle for Ruko’s Starter he traded away. His Oshawott. “Dugtrio, it’s all on you! GO!”

“Trio! Trio! Trio!” Dugtrio sang.

“Awwww, man! Here we go!”

“Dugtrio, Dig attack, now!”

“Earthquake, right away!”

“NO! DON’T!” I screamed.

Dugtrio was underground before I had even opened my mouth to speak.

“Hydreigon!!” Hydreigon jumped and then slammed down to the ground, quaking the entire area.

We all screamed as we fell, unable to keep our balance against the amazing strength of Hydreigon. When the attack ended, we all were moaning on the ground, dizzy and worn out.

Something popped up from underground. “Trio…” My beaten Dugtrio groaned.

“HA! I WON! I can’t believe this! I really did it!” Ruko cheered, jumping to his feet.

“But… My Simple Beam…” I mumbled as I sat up, tears beginning to build up in my eyes. My plan had completely failed. “Return…” I said in a voice just above a whisper, and I retrieved my Dugtrio. My knees slid together and I rested my forehead against them with a sigh. My eyes closed.

“Hydreigon, you’re really great! I love you so much! Excellent job out there, man! Ha ha!” Ruko laughed. “That was crazy!! Come on back for some well deserved rest, alright?”

I heard his brutal Pokemon get returned, and I looked up.

Ruko turned to me and walked over. He extended his hand to me. “You alright, Gar-bear?”

I sighed and, using a lot of strength from within me, I forced myself to grab his hand, pulling myself to my feet. “You did awesome, Ruko. Great battle.” I don’t know how I managed that small smile to my face as I shook his hand.

“Hey, man, thanks! You did awesome, too!” Ruko shook my hand with vigor. “Thanks for the battles! You’re so cool!”

“Yeah, well, sorry for getting a little short-tempered with you,” I apologized. “It wasn’t right. I was just being sour about stuff.”

“Don’t worry about that, Gary. We just have different ways of looking at things, that’s all. Doesn’t mean we can’t still be friends, right?”

“Yeah!”

“Where’s Trixa?” Ella asked, her arms crossed in front of her.

Courtney was surprisingly close by me compared to where I had seen her last time, and June was standing in the same spot where she had been judging the battle.

“Trixa?” June called, looking in the spot Trixa had been at when the battle had been taking place.

Trixa’s head poked out from behind a tree very far away from where she had been standing. “Is that scary dragon monster gone, now?” she called out to us. “That face it made nearly made me pass out…”

What a tragedy that would have been, I thought sarcastically with a sigh.

A shrill, sharp BEEEP! rang out repeatedly from somewhere near us.

“Oh, that’s me!” Ruko lifted his wrist and I saw his huge watch. Up close, I could see that it was purple with a pink wristband. The screen was a bright white. He pressed the sides of the watch and a face appeared on it! “Hey, Nami!”

A very cute girl was on Ruko’s watch, smiling up at him. Her black hair looked fluffy and was a mess, as if she’d just woken up. She looked like she was in a room. “Hey, baby! Where are you? I’m getting ready right now.”

“Okay, cool! I’m not that far. I’ll meet you there, okay?” Ruko told the girl.

“Okay, then. I love you.” Nami blew a kiss.

Ruko blew one back. “I love you, too, babe. See ya soon!”

The screen on Ruko’s watch went dark.

“What is that?” I asked.

“This? Just my Xtransceiver,” Ruko answered simply.

“So that’s an Xtransceiver? I thought it was just a watch…”

“Well, it does tell time, but it allows me to make and receive calls with multiple people at once, has internet access, cool apps for games and stuff, and it’s just really convenient! My parents bought it for me as a gift when I left on my journey!”

“That’s a really good gift,” Courtney commented, and I nodded.

“Thanks! Well, I guess I gotta go!” Ruko smiled at us all. “Gary, thanks again! I’m headed off to Interough City to meet up with my girlfriend. That was her. My love, Naminette. It’s so great seeing you all again! Good luck, and I hope to see you guys at the Conference! Bye!” He turned away from us ran down the cement road.

“RUKO!” June called after him.

Ruko came to a stop. “Hey! What’s up, Juni?”

“Before you go, please! I wanna battle you!”

Everyone turned to June in shock.

“Oh, wow. That sounds nice, but, I kinda don’t have a ton of time on me,” Ruko said, maintaining his smile. “I mean, I could if it’s really quick…”

“One-on-one. No time limit,” June insisted. “I just want to see something, okay?”

“Okay, then!” Ruko agreed. “A one-on-one battle.”

Both trainers faced each other in the middle of the concrete path.

Ella and Courtney stood on either side of me, watching intently.

Trixa hid behind her tree again, peeking out at the match.

“Electivire, I choose you!” June threw her Poke Ball.

“Electivire?” I gasped.

“Oh, my goodness!” Ella gasped.

“Is she serious?” Courtney whispered.

“Oh, no! Looks like I’m definitely about to lose, now! Ha ha ha! Juni brought out the big guns!” Ruko grabbed an Ultra Ball and tossed it. “Then I’ll go for power, too! Rampardos!”

Rampardos let out a loud, growling cry.

“Electivire…” Electivire’s fists sparked as he punched them together, sneering at Rampardos.

“Rampardos, one of the most powerful physical Pokemon on Earth, versus June’s Electivire,” Ella noted. “Why is June doing this?”

“This is going to be interesting, for sure,” I said solemnly. “Ruko’s going with one of the ancients that have been running wild, terrorizing Unova.”

“You have a Rampardos?!” I had screamed in shock earlier today when Ruko had sent out his six Pokemon, revealing that he owned a Rampardos.

“That’s right!” Ruko responded proudly. “It’s one of the ancient Pokemon that have been in the news lately that mysteriously appeared in Unova. I found it a couple of weeks ago in the woods, running into trees and toppling them over. A quick battle later, I owned me a cool Rampardos! It’s a great battler, too! I’m sure I can make a fantastic trade off of it!”

I had been too shocked at the time that Ruko had actually captured one of the released ancient Pokemon to erupt in a rage at his words.

“You’re welcome to go first, Juni,” Ruko offered.

“Thanks! Electivire, use Thunder Punch!” June chose.

“Rampardos, slam into the ground with Earthquake and wrap this battle up!”

Electivire ran quick and pulled back a sparking fist, ready to slug Rampardos.

Ramparados cried out as it was hit with an uppercut, and the Pokemon toppled over, landing heavily.

“Is Electivire listening to June?” Ella asked in shock. “That was Thunder Punch!”

“Yeah, but I don’t think he’s listening,” I deduced. “I think June just got lucky this once. That punch was freaking good, too. That took it straight down!”

“It’s not over, yet,” Courtney said sharply. “That was just one hit.”

“That’s all it took for Gary’s Pokemon to go down,” Ella brought up. “Why can’t Ruko’s Pokemon go down that easily, too?”

I stared at Ella from the corner of my eye. Seriously, Ella? I thought, my heart beating faster. You really had to say that?

Rampardos got to its feet.

“TIVIIIIRE!!” Electivire raged.

Rampardos shouted back.

“Electivire, one more Thunder Punch, and really let him have it!” June said seriously.

“VIIIIIIRE!!” Electivire zapped Rampardos with Thunder.

“There he goes again…” I muttered.

“Electivire, just listen to me! I know you’re tough enough to beat him, but how about we do this as a team for a change?” June pleaded with her Pokemon. “You and I-AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!” June was forced down flat on her face, her body sparking with electricity as Electivire sent a jolt at her. Most of her hair was still in the air from the first time she got zapped, and the few strands that she had managed to get down joined the rest of her hair again.

“Whyyy are you using that thing?” Ella called out to June desperately.

Electivire ran to Rampardos and swiftly kicked at one of his legs, tripping him to the ground.

“He’s beating him up really good,” I mentioned. “At least, I think he is. Electivire’s landed a lot of hits. Maybe he can actually win this.”

“Rampardos, it’s our turn already. Do that Earthquake!” Ruko demanded.

“E-E-E-Electivire…” June was on her knees, looking up helplessly at her Pokemon. The look on her face was heartbreaking.

Poor June, I thought. Her Electivire is just… Too much for her to handle…

“Tivire!” Electivire raised his foot to Low Sweep Rampardos again.

Rampardos grunted angrily and slammed his head upwards into Electivire’s face.

“Viiiire!” Electivire grabbed his head and stumbled backwards, whining painfully.

That was the first time I’d seen Electivire react like that during a Pokemon battle. Or ever!

Rampardos stood up and roared, and he slammed his foot down, rocking the ground hard.

We all were floored easily from the powerful Earthquake.

“VIIIIIIIRE!!” Electivire slid along the ground on his back.

“Electivire!” June pushed herself shakily to her feet as the attack subsided and she stared at her Pokemon. “Electivire, are you alright?” She ran to her Pokemon’s side and knelt down. One hand rubbed Electivire’s massive muscle on his arm, while her other hand rubbed his forehead where he’d been Headbutted. She sighed. “Okay. Sorry you had to go through that, Electivire. Thanks for trying.” She held up her hand that contained Electivire’s Poke Ball and pressed the middle button to enlarge it.

Electivire’s huge, open palm swung fast and shoved June in the face. “VIRE!” Electivire growled viciously as he got to his feet.

June cried out as she was thrown back, and her Poke Ball rolled along the ground.

Ella grabbed my wrist with her hands. “June! Oh, my gosh! I can’t believe Electivire just did that to her!”

Electivire stomped over to Rampardos, picking up speed with every step until he was running at him, roaring powerfully, his entire body sparking brightly. “ELECTIVIIIIIIIIIRRRRRE!!!”

“That thing is out of control!” Ruko shouted in anger, his fists tight at his sides. “Enough is enough! Rampardos, get ready!”

Rampardos lowered his head, growling.

Electivire pulled back a sparking fist.

Ruko’s eyes narrowed further, focusing on the ground in front of Electivire.

“I’m scared!” Courtney wrapped her arms around me in a hug and buried her face against my shoulder.

“VIRE!” Electivire was just a few steps away.

“Stomp forward into a duck, now!” Ruko told her Pokemon.

Rampardos raised his foot and took a hard Stomp forward, leaning his body down, and Electivire’s Thunder Punch swung right over his head.

“VIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRE!!!” Electivire’s eyes bulged and he screamed, struggling to move back! “VIRE!!! VIRE!!!”

Rampardos had his foot on top of Electivire’s!

“It used Stomp on Electivire’s foot!” Ella gasped.

My mouth was wide open in amazement. That’s incredible! That wasn’t some strategy from another Trainer he just used. Ruko thought that up on his own…

June climbed to her feet, sniffling, her now red face coated in tears.

“Now, Iron Head!” Ruko instructed her Pokemon.

The blue dome on Rampardos’ forehead turned to silver metal.

“VIRE!! VIRE!! VIIIIRE!!” Electivire was struggling to free his foot from under the Stomp attack Rampardos used on it, but he couldn’t escape. His arms spun around wildly.

Rampardos shouted out and lifted his foot, freeing Electivire, and at the same time, he jabbed his head into Electivire’s stomach with Iron Head.

“VIIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRRRE!!!!” Electivire flew backwards and directly into June, knocking her back down.

“JUNE!” Ruko, me, Ella, and Courtney yelled, and we ran to her.

Even Trixa ran from behind the tree she had been hiding behind to help June.

Electivire moaned weakly, his eyes closed. He had clearly lost the battle.

“Return…” June said weakly from underneath Electivire.

I reached June first and extended my hand to her.

Ella and Courtney went to either side of her to help June to her feet.

June gripped my hand and grunted as she tried to pull herself up, but couldn’t, so she gripped me with both hands and, grunting even harder, with the help of Courtney and Ella, and Trixa who helped June from behind, she was able to stand up.

“Are you okay, Juni?” Ruko asked June.

June sighed, tears still rolling down her face. “No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “I’m really not, to be honest.”

“Is something broken? Do you need a hospital?” Trixa asked.

“No, I’m fine, physically, okay?” June hobbled away from us and stood by herself.

“You’re walking like you’re in pain,” Trixa commented.

“Trixa, just leave her alone!” I scolded her.

“What did I do?” Trixa asked with a hurt look on her face.

Ruko walked over to June. “Juni, I’m really sorry about that.”

June smiled weakly, but she kept her face down, refusing to face Ruko. “You didn’t do anything wrong. This is all my fault. Don’t worry about it, okay? Thanks for battling me.”

Ruko nodded sadly. “I hope I see you at the League.”

“Definitely, Ruko,” June nodded at the ground below. “I’m sure of it. Good luck, okay?”

“Yeah, and you, too,” Ruko said gently. “You know. With Electivire.”

“Yeah.”

Ruko looked at his Xtransciever and gasped. He turned to the rest of us with a big smile. “I’ve gotta be going, now! I hope to see you all at the Conference! BYE NOW!” He took off down the cement path, and soon, he was out of sight.

I looked back at the group that was with me.

Trixa, using her tongue to fish out something from her gums, her eyes in the sky.

Ella, looking over at June, sadly.

Courtney, her eyes focused on me.

And June, her back to us, head down, hair extended outwards, shoulders shaking lightly as she cried lightly.

All the while, there was me, thinking about Ruko and his incredibly powerful Pokemon that continued to embarrass me time after time.

Battle after battle.

Ruko was now on his way to Interough City, where the Unova League Conference was being held.

Ella, Trixa, Courtney, June, and I would be in Interough City soon enough, as well.

Ella, Trixa, Courtney, and I would be competing in the Interough Conference, for sure.

And so would Ruko.

I would never admit it openly, but this moment was the very first time I felt this worried about having to face a challenger. But, I also knew that there would be tons of other challengers at the Interough Conference who might be able to defeat Ruko.

But, no.

That’s not what I wanted.

I had to be the one to defeat him.

With my Pokemon.

Somehow.

Someway.

My way.