“Raichu, use Dig!” Gary shouted.

“Raichu!” Raichu ripped at the ground with his front paws, vanishing underground quickly.

“Lanturn, Aqua Ring! Go!” June said eagerly.

Rings made of sparkling droplets of water crossed and danced through each other, encircling Lanturn. In a flash, they vanished.

Lanturn cried out as a determined Raichu burst through the ground, attacking powerfully.

“Lanturn, stay strong and use Hydro Pump while he’s out!”

Lanturn blasted at Raichu with Hydro Pump.

“Out of the way!”

Raichu dug underground again, avoiding damage.

The circles of water returned around Lanturn and went away after a bit. She called out happily.

“Aqua Ring...” Gary pulled out his Pokedex.

Aqua Ring heals the user a bit and remains continuous while the Pokemon is in battle.

“Right! Raichu, go!”

“Split up with Double Team!”

Lanturn duplicated once, twice...

“Raichu!” Raichu burst through the ground and right through a fake image of Lanturn. He looked around angrily, eyeing the multitude more Lanturn.

“Not gonna work twice, Gary!” June winked. “Now, Confuse Ray!”

A golden ball formed in front of each Lanturn. As the balls increased in size, a purple and white aura could be seen inside. With a shout, the balls all flew at Raichu, surrounding him in a circle. The balls continued to grow and combine into one, trapping Raichu inside before the POP!

Raichu’s eyes were now red as he stumbled about, mumbling.

“Raichu! FOCUS!” Gary called out.

“Let’s do that Hydro Pump one more time!”

All the surrounding Lanturn inhaled and closed their mouths. With a collective shout, they all sent out pumps of water to Raichu.

“RAAAAAAAAIII!!” Raichu suffered from the attacks, his voice echoing from the mountain.

“Pika Pikaaaaa!” June’s Pikachu urged.

Her other Pokemon also cheered on.

Charizard roared, making just about everyone jump or at least turn to him, and he sent out large flames into the air, amped up from the exciting battle.

It kind of felt nice near Charizard’s blasting heat, causing Gary to smile a bit.

Gary’s other Pokemon yelled out their support.

The only ones not present were Tyrogue, Electivire, and Porygon-Z. For everyone’s sake...

June turned around quickly, smiling, and crossed her arms, staring at her cheering Pokemon. “Oh! Are we switching sides, Pikachu?”

All of the Lanturn glanced to Pikachu quickly before returning to Raichu.

“Pi...” Pikachu looked away sheepishly, a small smile on his face. “Pika Pii!” He waved with both hands and jumped about.

“Team Everyone, is it?” June laughed. “Playing both sides of the fence, now? Seems Raichu has won you over.”

“Huh? What’s going on?”

June turned to Gary. “Pikachu is cheering for both Lanturn and Raichu in this fight, but I think he’s becoming special buddies with Raichu. It’s not uncommon for the same species of Pokemon and those in their family line to build a close bond.”

“Ah, ha ha! Hey, thanks, Pikachu!”

“Yeah, yeah! Too bad this match is done! All at once, Bubble Beam!”

The Lanturn opened their mouths and fired out countless blue Bubbles at Raichu.

“Raichu, surrounded yourself in a Thunderbolt to protect yourself! Use that energy to strike them all!”

Raichu closed his eyes. “Rai Rai Rai Rai...” His body then multiplied repeatedly!

“Hey, that’s Double Team!” June said.

“Raichu just learned Double Team? He didn’t have that before!” Gary was open-mouthed in shock, but happy. “Alright!”

“In his Confusion, he must’ve accidentally slipped into a new, learnable move!” June nodded.

“Man, that’s-!” Gary’s excitement was interrupted by what went on next.

The Bubbles from the Bubble Beams struck a bunch of clone Raichu, causing them to disappear. Several other Bubbles went beyond the remaining Raichu, hitting the standing rocks and stone ground in the background.

A yell came out suddenly!

“Huh?” Gary uttered.

June gasped. “Hey!”

One of the large stones was rolling forward on its own!

No. One of the large stones was running forward on its own!

“Whoa! Look out!” Gary pointed, his eyes widened. “Yo!” He took several steps back. “A Pokemon?”

Nosepass. The Compass Pokemon. Very popular amongst Hikers, these Pokemon function as a compass and always have their electromagnetic noses pointed north. While usually immobile, when in danger, they can drill into the ground at an amazing speed to get away.

“Nosepaaaaaass!!” The Pokemon ran through the remaining clones of Raichu, getting rid of them, and was headed right for all the Lanturn.

The Lanturn bobbed in place, unable to maneuver well on land and having little place to go.

“Magneeeeeeeeeeet!” Magneton flew in and met with Nosepass’ nose!

Nosepass toppled over onto its back.

Magneton clung to its nose.

“Oh, no!” June ran over to them.

“Nose! Pass! Nosepass!” Nosepass shook on its back, struggling and squirming.

“Nosepass, please! Just remain still! Let me try and get it off of you!” June held her hands out but didn’t make any real moves to separate the two, choosing different angles to stare from.

Gary watched with focused eyes.

“Oh! Maybe if I just-” June looked to where she had left her bag, back where she had been standing when battling. She turned back to Nosepass. “If you’d just hold on, I’ll get its Poke Ball and everything will be fine!”

“MAGNETOOOOOOON!!!” Magneton’s magnets glowed yellow.

“NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSEPASS!!” Nosepass bellowed as it was hit by Magneton’s Electric attack. Its nose suddenly glowed orange. Thick blocks of silver energy came from its nose, slamming into the attached Magneton.

“Magneton!” June shouted as her Pokemon was repeatedly assaulted by this move, yet remained on the nose of Nosepass.

Rock Blast. The user sends out a varying amount of Rock type damage to the opponent.

Gary’s hand tightened around his informative Pokedex as he watched this take place.

“Then I guess I’ll need to join in and fight back!” June’s face hardened. “Magneton!”

The struggling voices of Magneton and Nosepass were heard, June tightening her eyes on the two, seeming unsure of what to say.

Gary stared at June before looking back at the two Pokemon. He put his Pokedex away and kept

his hand in his jeans pocket.

“Try Electro Ball, then!” June let out.

Magneton’s body was covered in yellow electricity. All of the electricity then combined in a yellow-orange ball in front of Magneton’s body. This ball exploded quickly.

Magneton tumbled backwards through the air, Nosepass rolling and bouncing back. Magneton suddenly halted by itself and flew right back into Nosepass’ nose!

What’s going on? Gary narrowed his eyesight on the two. What’s Magneton doing?

“Noooooose!” Nosepass reached out, holding onto Magneton now.

“Magnetooooooon!!”

A metallic gold orb of energy surrounded in an orange energy appeared, containing most of Magneton’s body. It exploded, sending Magneton back and it dropped down quick.

Nosepass moved at a steady pace for Magneton.

“Ahh!”

A Poke Ball flew through the air, landing at Nosepass’ back, and it hovered in the air as it opened. A red beam shot out and hit Nosepass, taking over its body and turning it red. Nosepass was converted into red energy and pulled inside of the Poke Ball, which closed and hit the ground. The middle button was blinking red as it shook.

It shook some more.

It shook again.

It shook one last time.

PING!

The red light remained, but the ball stopped shaking.

June turned with surprise. “Gary!”

Gary let out his breath. “Sorry about that but I didn’t assume you wanted a Nosepass. Plus, you were a distance off from it,” he smiled. “But if you want, you can have it.”

Gary turned first, June right after, as the Poke Ball glowed brightly before vanishing on the spot, sent to Prof. Oak.

June turned to Gary with a smile and shook her head. “No, that’s fine. I was too far away from my bag even if I was going to get a Poke Ball. Besides, I catch Electric types for the most part, anyway, ha ha! Congratulations!”

“Thanks for your help. What was going on there, though?”

“Your Pokedex said something about magnetism in their noses. Maybe, there was something to that, considering Magneton is a Steel type,” June suggested.

Magneton was hovering shakily, not looking in the best shape.

“Magneton, please return and get some rest! I’m so sorry you had to go through that.” June called back her Pokemon to its Poke Ball.

Gary couldn’t help grinning. “A brand new Pokemon! Boy, I’m really...” Gary’s smile lessened. Really what? he questioned. Catching ‘em all? By what means? He sighed, maintaining a small grin. “I can’t wait to catch more. Let’s-ah! Whoa! Ah!” Gary moved around as three little objects flew by him in turn.

“Oh! What’s that? And that??” June was staring at the things flying away.

Seeing nothing more coming towards him, Gary quickly looked at the direction the three things had gone. “Did you see that?”

June nodded. “But I don’t know what they were!”

“Pokemon, maybe? They almost looked like little Nosepasses, don’t cha think?” He grabbed his Pokedex. Before he was able to pull it out, something made his arm stay in place, but his body turned along with June and the other Pokemon.

Something loud was coming.

“Gary,” June started.

The sound got louder, closer. Threatening shouts.

“June.” Gary didn’t take his eyes from the direction the sound was coming from.

Something was headed for the group.

Gary and June’s Pokemon stood their ground, ready to defend their Trainers from whatever was approaching.

With a burst of noise, the thing appeared from downhill, floating up to the group.

Everyone uttered in surprise at the appearance of the thing.

Probopass. The Compass Pokemon. The evolved form of Nosepass. Using their Mini-Noses, they can attack and hunt from a variety of directions. While it can control them, it can also lose them. A mustache-like setup under its normal nose is made of iron.

“The evolved form!” I can catch both of them! What luck! Gary considered. “OH!” Gary found himself screaming out in a panic with June and all of the other Pokemon as the floating Pokemon charged right by them, seemingly willing to run them all over!

It went right by, clearing space without touching anyone, and came to a stop several feet away. “PROOOOOOOBOOOOOOOOOO!!!”

“Oh, no...” June said in a low voice. “He’s missing something.” She turned to Gary. “Gary. The Nosepass...”

“Nosepass?” He then gasped. “My Nosepass? Is he looking for him? Do you think they know each other?”

June nodded. “He’s searching for something out here. I can hear it.” She turned to Probopass. “Probopass, we have your Nosepass!”

“Probo?” He turned around and stared at June. “Probo?”

June’s face scrunched up. “Huh? Wait, what? Could you repeat that?” She walked up to the Pokemon.

He wasn’t the tallest Pokemon. June was taller than him. But he was still pretty big for something that wasn’t human.

Probopass and June eyed each other.

The Pokemon landed heavily. “Probo? Probo? Probopass!”

“Please explain!” June insisted brightly.

“Pro Probo Probo!” Probopass spoke to June eagerly, telling his story.

At some point, June started rubbing her chin, her eyebrows narrowing in interest. When the Pokemon stopped talking, June turned around to Gary. “Can I see your Pokedex? Can you scan Probopass? Just pull him up?”

Gary took out his Pokedex again and turned it on as June walked to him. They both stared at the revolving, 3D image of Probopass.

“There it is! Or, they!” June pointed at the Pokedex. “Those two things at the sides, and the one on the back! The Mini-Noses! That’s what we saw flying by us just now!”

“Hey! I think you’re right! They did look a bit like this.”

“Exactly like this. Probopass has lost them and is trying to track them down.”

“Probo!” Probopass made a big BOOOOOOM!! as he jumped and landed, facing the direction to where the Mini-Noses flew off.

Gary and June were startled by this but returned to their discussion.

“He’s trying to track down his... noses?” Gary continued.

“I... Um... I’m not fully sure how it works, but... in some sense, yes...” June shrugged. “How do we even begin to help him find them?”

“Find? Help?”

“Well, I mean, I thought...”

“How are we gonna run around trying to find three flying noses??”

“We do have, like, sixteen Pokemon between us...” June suggested hesitantly.

“June, I don’t mean to sound like a jerk, but this sounds a bit like a personal problem.”

June sighed and lowered her head. “It’s not like I disagree, but...”

“Those things flew by us! How would we even begin to locate them?” He turned to Probopass. “Hey, man, look, I’m sorry about what happened, but you’ve gotta keep a better eye on your... stuff... Good luck, okay?”

Probopass didn’t react, still looking outward, away from Gary.

Gary looked to June and shrugged.

June stared at him with disapproval and looked to Probopass. “But how is he going to-?”

“Like I said...” Gary held his tongue from calling it a “personal problem” again. He was starting to feel bad. “I mean, really, where do we even begin finding three flying noses? We’ve been just standing here arguing about it long enough. They’re all gone! How do noses even do that??”

“Well, maybe it’s like a robot,” June offered an explanation. “Probopass is Rock and Steel, so maybe it functions like a machine like many Steel Pokemon do.”

“Probooooo.” Probopass ascended just a couple of inches into the air and just like that, floated away from Gary and June, continuing along the mountain and past a few trees.

“Hey, where’s he going? Did he find them?” Gary asked.

“He’s going to continue looking for them,” June replied.

“I kind of wanna catch him, but, I mean, what’s a Probopass without the complete set? Besides, I have Nosepass. How do you evolve the thing?”

“They have to be in an area of intense electrical power and leveled up.”

Gary looked around him. “Intense electric power?”

“Like a Power Plant. Places that give off high electrical currents.”

“Right, but, then, what would a Probopass be doing here? Or, better, how would a Nosepass be able to evolve up here if they evolve through electromagnetism.”

“Electromagnetism...?” June repeated slowly. “Is that even a word...?” she asked with unsurity.

“Isn’t it...?”

June held a look of uncertainty and stared after where Probopass had gone, but he was now gone.

“Good luck to him,” Gary said dismissively. “Let’s get back to our-”

“GOOD LUCK, PROBOPAAAASS!! AND TRY TO HEAD FOR GRINGEY CITY IF YOU CAAAAAN!! THERE’S A NICE POWER PLANT FULL OF ELECTRICITY THERE!!” Laughing lightly, June turned to Gary with a big smile. “I feel bad. A wild Probopass in this area? I think it may have been released. I had to see if I could do something for the poor thing.”

“I’m not sure you did anything with that,” Gary muttered clear enough for June to hear.

June opened her mouth, but instead of talking, she ended up closing it and pressing her lips together in a small, tight smile.

Gary didn’t smile back. “So, what do you say to our battle? We got interrupted. Raichu versus Lanturn needs to proceed!”

“You’re right! Let’s go!”

They both backed up several feet apart on the spot.

All their Pokemon chose their Trainer and stood behind them, ready for orders, eyeing the opposite side seriously, though some had determined smiles.

“Lanturn, go on!” June pointed.

Lanturn flopped, seeming to struggle against the ground, but made her way and stopped, breathing hard.

“Let’s go-!” Gary also pointed, but a white beam shot from a Poke Ball on his waist, sending out something that was purposely being kept away. “Wait a minute! WAIT!” He reached out.

Porygon-Z erupted into a wild screech which echoed out far, dropping Gary, June, and their Pokemon hard.

Cries and caws and scattering were heard from far off from some other creatures.

Gary let out an enraged roar, his hands covering his ears, and he squinted through tear-filled eyes.

Porygon-Z’s head was to the gray clouds above that blocked out the sun, his body tilted upward, just shrieking its head off for no known reason.

With claws grasping the sides of his head, roaring, Charizard stomped the ground, blasting flames upward, not aiming, just reacting to the pain of the noise while covering his ears.

Galvantula, Pikachu and Ampharos were right along with Charizard, trying to block the sound out with their hands to their ears while wailing out.

Raichu was on his stomach, covering his ears, his legs kicking out as he screamed, looking like a child having a temper tantrum.

While Absol, Eevee, and Manectric had to lower their heads to try and barely be able to cover their ears with their front paws, Blitzle, Rotom, and Lanturn had no such options and had to suffer the worst.

Ivysaur did her best holding her vines against the sides of her head, her eyes shut in anger.

“PORYGON-Z!! WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY????!!!!!” Gary’s voice echoed through the now quiet mountain. He was breathing hard, soon realizing the screeching was over, and he cautiously lowered his hands from his throbbing eardrums.

All the Pokemon looked worn out, squinting as if having just woken, many hunched over or remaining laid out.

June was on her knees, her hands still over her ears, fright in her eyes on Porygon-Z.

Groaning, Gary stood up. He flinched hard from his pained head and ears, his cold eyes on Porygon-Z. “Porygon-Z!” he said through gritted teeth.

Porygon-Z now let out a lighter whine and floated over to Gary. Its appendages flapped in the air, like a happy baby in a puddle of mud.

Gary squinted angrily, taking in this moment. What’s it doing? He then shook his head and grimaced. No. What was it doing??! “Porygon-Z!! This is about enough, now! I demand an explanation for this crazy behavior! I am not going to be-!”

A shout from a distance broke out from afar.

“Oh, my...?” June uttered, staring behind her.

Gary turned. “What the...?”

It was seconds later before something appeared from the trees.

“Oh!” Gary’s eyes widened.

“Welcome back!” June beamed.

“PROBOOOOO!” Probopass had returned! He spoke out to everyone with a strong, booming voice. And around his body were three little objects.

“Hey, those! The Mini-Noses? He found them?” Gary smiled a little.

“PROBO! PROBO! PROBOO!” Probopass was now bouncing heavily, quaking the ground and stumbling the group.

Gary held out his arms, trying hard not to fall.

June dropped but laughed as she rattled along the ground.

Porygon-Z zipped towards Probopass and hovered in his face.

June exploded in a sharp scream as Gary’s Pokemon flew by her and she took off, running a good distance and stopping behind a lone tree, peering around it as she gripped the trunk tightly.

“Probo? Probo?” Probopass was no longer bouncing, sitting on the ground.

Porygon-Z tumbled in the air headfirst repeatedly, and then moved forward and his head clonked against Probopass’ body.

Probopass didn’t react to this peculiar action.

Porygon-Z then collapsed, landing on its side, and its body started to quiver! It let out an odd humming noise along with this.

“Porygon-Z?” Gary took a step forward, concerned.

Probopass began speaking his name to Porygon-Z.

Porygon-Z stopped moving and remained lifeless on the ground.

Gary’s eyes went back and forth from one Pokemon to the other. Porygon-Z! Is it okay? Why did it stop moving? Is Probopass doing something to it?

June gasped loudly from her distant position.

Gary turned to her. “What? Is Porygon-Z okay?? What’s happening?!”

June’s mouth opened, and a big smile came across it. “Ha!” She clenched her teeth together as a sneer came over her face.

“What? What happened??” Gary questioned, confused.

“PROBO PROBO!!” Probopass turned and floated off with the Mini-Noses.

“And don’t forget about Gringey Cityyyy! I’m from there! Maybe I’ll see you again somedaaaaay!” June waved after Probopass with both arms.

Porygon-Z let out a noise that sounded like a robot powering up, the noise rising and strengthening as it returned back to hovering. This time, it released a more whiny, high-pitched, but not at all piercing sound that didn’t break everyone’s ears.

June turned to Gary, her wary eyes then shooting over to Porygon-Z.

“What is going on here?” Gary questioned.

“If you put that away, I’ll tell you,” June promised.

They both turned to Porygon-Z.

It immediately looked over to the two. A sound that could have been purring, smoothly came out, and it rocked back and forth in the air like a rocking horse, no child on top.

Gary held out the Poke Ball and it was pulled back inside. “Alright, so what even happened today?” he insisted, crossing his arms.

June let out her breath. “I hate to have to admit this, but...”

“Can you come a little closer? It’s hard to hear you.” His ears were still ringing after Porygon-Z’s loud act.

“Then can you come to me? I’m still a little frightened and shaken up after that.”

“After what??”

“Your Porygon-Z! I cannot understand that thing, Gary! It’s really scary for me!”

Gary sighed and walked over to June. He stopped near her and looked down at his belt, directly at the Poke Ball with Porygon-Z in it. What’s wrong with it? What makes her understand all the other Pokemon we meet? Gary remembered June saying she couldn’t hear Ish’s Pokemon like she had expected. But she must have been mistaken. She could understand. She said it herself. Gary then remembered the creature Pokemon he could hear, but June could not.

“That Probopass actually found his Mini-Noses thanks to Porygon-Z’s echoing scream,” June informed Gary.

Gary nearly fell over. “Heh??”

“That psychotic noise actually dismantled the Mini-Noses, and Probopass got to them afterwards,” she shrugged. “He was grateful to your Pokemon for the help.”

“Seriously?? That damn noise came in handy to anyone??” Gary slapped a hand over his face.

June abruptly returned her Pokemon to their Poke Balls. “How about we call it a day and keep moving to this Gym instead of battling? I’ve had enough.” Before Gary could give a response, she turned and walked to her bag, dumping the Poke Balls inside.

“June,” Gary said softly.

She grabbed her bag and slung the strap over her shoulder. Without even checking for Gary, June walked ahead.

Gary and his weary Pokemon were left staring after her, unable to even move in the uncomfortable atmosphere.

There was no celebrating a new Pokemon caught.

No resting up after a battle.

Not even joy for helping a Pokemon in need.

No smiles for Trainer nor Pokemon in that area, that day.