“Ninety-nine Pokemon?! Just, how in the world, Aly??” Gary walked with slumped shoulders and a hunched over back. “And thirty-five of them were their own original species, not evolutions or dupes! Rob with fifty originals. Even Kiwi, who hasn’t caught a thing since Saffron, had thirty altogether!”

“Gary, you can’t beat yourself up like this!” June tried.

“And I only have thirty-seven total?? And how many were GIVEN TO ME??!”

June brushed back her hair with one hand. “Oh... Gary.”

“Rai... Raichu,” Raichu said sadly, his ears lowered.

Tired of talking, he kept going on in silence along the dirt path in an angry and depressed slump.

He wasn’t even remotely interested in the view of the wide water beyond a white, metal barrier that lined it. Mountains and trees on the other side of the lake were too distant to see in detail. Grass and shrubs were to the left, as well as just a few trees within. It wasn’t long before the view of the water was blocked by more trees and shrubs, and the path started to go slightly uphill.

Upon reaching the top, the three stopped.

Now, even Gary was able to smile, and he straightened up.

June gasped, clasping her hands together, also smiling. “Gary! Look!”

“Raichu!” Raichu smiled, lifting his Black Glasses.

An enormous stadium sat at a distance. The building was all white, with two sets of stairs leading up the front and ending at the very top of the roofless structure. Two large screens inside of the stadium sat on opposite ends at the top. A big designed Poke Ball was stationed on the front of the building above a set of windows.

“Hey! Let’s see how ready we are with a full six-on-six Pokemon battle!”

“Whoa!” Gary’s voice cracked as he jumped, turning at the stranger’s voice.

June cried out, turning around as well.

“Raaaai!” Raichu’s cheeks sparked with surprise.

A young boy in white shorts and a white, sleeveless undershirt stood in all white sandals and was bald.

“Where did you come from?” Gary asked, his heart trying to find its place in his chest again.

“What’s up? My name’s Ralph. I’ve got all eight Badges and I’m on my way to here, the Indigo League, yo! So let’s have us a Full Battle! I mean, you guys are here to compete, too, right? Getting here this early and all?”

“Yeah, I am. I just wanna get registered and know the place and stuff. I’m down for a battle first. Right here?”

“Why not?”

Gary nodded and the two boys split from each other.

“I can judge this match, then.” June went off to the side with Raichu. “This will be a six-on-six Full Pokemon Battle! No time limit! First Trainer with all six Pokemon defeated wins the match! Begin!” She waved with a big smile.

Raichu cheered at her side, leaping into the air, his feet and arms wiggling about before he landed.

“Machoke, let’s begin!” The kid sent out his first Pokemon.

“MAAAAAAA! Maaaaa-choke!” Machoke flexed hard.

“A Machoke! Nice! Then I think I’ll go with Hitmonchan!” Gary sent out his first choice.

“Hiiitmonchan!” Hitmonchan tightened the Yellow Scarf around his neck and then sent out a flurry of punches.

“Easy, Hitmonchan! Conserve your energy, remember?” Gary warned.

Hitmonchan kept his fists by his face and bounced on his toes.

Machoke. The Superpower Pokemon. They live in foreboding areas, training recklessly for power. They wear a power-save belt after evolving from Machop to contain their overbearing strength.

“Hitmonchan, Bullet Punch!”

Hitmonchan moved quick, hitting Machoke across the cheek.

“Revenge!” Ralph decided.

Machoke was coated in an orange aura.

“Counter!” Gary went.

Machoke blasted Hitmonchan with the aura around it.

Hitmonchan crossed his arms, a red aura surrounding his body. He grunted as he was forced back but kept his footing, and a red aura burst forth from him and tossed Machoke.

Machoke wailed out and rolled on the ground, coming to a still.

“Machoke is out! Hitmonchan wins this one!” June ruled.

“Raichu Rai!” Raichu celebrated, raising his arms to the sky.

“Good one! Return!” Ralph returned his Pokemon and sent out his second one quickly. “Gurdurr, go!”

While it wasn’t tall, it had a metal beam that reached higher and it carried this with ease. “GURDUUUURRRR!” it shouted challengingly, smiling.

Gurdurr. The Muscular Pokemon. This Pokemon tends to be found on construction sites, boasting to anyone who will listen about its bulging, great muscles. It’s so powerful, professional wrestlers cannot down them.

“Whoa, okay!” Gary laughed a little nervously. “No problem! Hitmonchan, Bullet Punch again!”

Hitmonchan struck, and true to the Pokedex, Gurdurr didn’t even flinch! In fact, it smiled!

“Chan?” Hitmonchan looked shocked.

“Don’t let it get to you, Hitmonchan! Thunder Punch!”

Hitmonchan went for a quick jab and zapped Gurdurr.

Ralph gasped as his Gurdurr began to twitch from the electricity coursing through its body. “Gurdurr, no! Knock ‘em away!”

Struggling greatly to twist its body, Gurdurr pulled back its beam to swing on Hitmonchan.

“Detect!”

Hitmonchan’s eyes glowed light blue and he ducked at the last second, avoiding the swing.

“Use Dynamic Punch!” Ralph ordered.

Gurdurr set down its beam and raised its fist. “Guuuur... Guuuuurrrr!” Its body sparked and twisted.

“It’s Paralyzed!” Gary smiled. “Now, Close Combat!”

Hitmonchan went for a flurry of punches.

Gurdurr stumbled back and fell.

Hitmonchan’s body glowed blue for a moment, his Defense and Special Defense dropping.

“Gurdurr is out! Hitmonchan wins it!” June cheered.

Raichu jumped high, crying out with delight.

“Ah, man! No way!” Ralph looked disappointed and returned his Pokemon. “Come on,

Combusken! Hold me down, here!” Another Poke Ball was tossed by him.

Combusken came out and bent his arms. “Combuskeeeeeen!”

“Yeeeaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!” Ralph joined in.

Combusken. The Young Fowl Pokemon. The second stage of the Fire type, Torchic. It gains the Fighting typing. With raging speeds, blinding kicks, and intimidating shouts, this Pokemon is a formidable opponent.

“Hitmonchan, return!” Gary recalled his Pokemon and smiled at the Poke Ball. “About time to rest, eh?”

“Huh?” Ralph looked confused.

Gary looked up. “Hitmonchan could use a moment. In the meantime, I'll use Clamperl next!” He threw the next Poke Ball.

“Peeerl!” Clamperl said upon appearing.

“Ah, a Water type! Fair game! But we won’t run from that! Quick Attack!”

Cawing out, Combusken moved in a sharp line and went right past Clamperl, leaving behind a long white line that went away as quickly as it appeared.

“Peeeeeerl!” Clamperl then skid backwards, getting closer to Combusken.

“Now use Will-O-Wisp!”

“Coooooooooombuskeeeeeeeeeeeeeenn!”

A light blue fireball, a dark blue fireball, and a pink fireball appeared, circling around Combusken. They flew out at Clamperl.

Clamperl was hit, screaming painfully. He erupted into flames and his shell closed up, though that gave no relief until the fire went away for the time being.

“Clamperl, use Shell Smash!”

Clamperl leaped out of his shell. His body glowed white, and this energy cracked and fell off of him, too. He then glowed red.

“While it’s vulnerable! Sky Uppercut!”

“Clamp attack!”

Screeching wildly, Combusken leaped after Clamperl with a glowing blue fist, leaving behind a white trail.

“Clamperl!” Clamperl flew at Combusken.

A bluish-white aura engulfed Clamperl and then closed around Combusken.

It let out an irritating caw that made Gary suck his teeth, annoyed by the noisy bird.

Combusken dropped down hard.

Clamperl cried out as the Burn hit and he fell. But he got back up.

“And Combusken is out!” June clapped once and then released her hands. “Oops!” She looked away, smiling.

“Raaai-!” Raichu initially started with joyful jumping, but stopped as he watched his Trainer and ended up mimicking her, looking in the opposite direction as her, but maintaining a smile.

“Damn!” Ralph returned Combusken. “This match is really putting me in my place. You’re more than ready for the League, kid. But I can’t quit, yet!” Ralph kept a youthful smile.

“Thanks...” Gary stared at the kid strangely. Who is this kid calling a kid? he questioned.

“I’ve still got three more Pokemon left! And I think it’s time to go Mega! Go, Mega Yanma!” The kid threw a Poke Ball.

The ball opened midair and sent out something terrible!

Gary screamed, frightened at a gigantic dragonfly!

It rasped at him in an evil voice.

Gary stumbled backwards, yelling out again.

Yanmega. The Ogre Darner Pokemon. The evolved form of Yanma. This Pokemon is very rare to find but if located, is dangerous, with the strength to carry an adult with its wings. It is known for flying by at high speeds and ripping the heads off of prey before anyone realizes what happened.

“Yanma-what?” Ralph called out. “What’d your Pokedex just say?”

“Yanmega... What did you call it?”

“It’s Mega Yanma! Isn’t it...? A Mega Evolution Pokemon?”

“Mega Evolution...?” Gary frowned. “Huh?”

“This isn’t a Mega Evolved form...? I guess that makes sense now that I think about it...” Ralph nearly fell over out of embarrassment.

“What are you talking about? Mega Evolve?”

Ralph laughed. “I’m not surprised you haven’t heard about it. It’s not really a Kanto thing, or a Unova thing, either, where I’m from. Look into it. It’s pretty cool! It allows certain Pokemon who can’t evolve further to reach a new form and become super strong!”

“I never heard of that!” Gary’s eyes widened.

“It’s really rare and not founded in this region. Kalos and Hoenn has a looot of history with the stuff, though.”

“That’s so cool! Who can Mega Evolve?? Any Pokemon fully evolved??”

Ralph laughed. “Not any. It’s not really known how many can do it. Look it up yourself, though. We’ve got a battle to finish, right?”

“Oh, right,” Gary nodded, his heart beating a little quicker at the kid’s resistance to keep talking about it.

“Peeeeeeeeerl!” Clamperl was harmed by the Burn again, bursting into flames momentarily.

“Clamperl, oh, no! I’m so sorry! Let’s go! Waterfall!”

“Use Double Team, Mega Yanma!” He slapped the front of his face. “Or whatever your name is...”

Yanmega rasped out and split into multiples!

Clamperl blasted Water from his mouth. The water curved upward and ascended, and Clamperl jumped on the water as it rose. He slammed right into a Yanmega.

The copies vanished!

“You hit the right one! Yes!”

“Come OOOOOONN!!” Ralph had both hands to his face, leaning back in frustration.

Yanmega fell back but remained in the air.

“Okay, no tricks! Go straight for U-Turn!”

Yanmega seemed to be cowering in the air and refused to move!

“Mega Yanma! HEY! What’s going on, Mega Yanma??”

“Shell Smash, quickly!”

Clamperl did Shell Smash once again, further lowering his Defenses, but increasing Attack, Special Attack, and Speed. He then suffered another Burn.

“We’re almost there, Clamperl! Waterfall again!”

“MEGA YANMAAAAA!!” Ralph screamed helplessly.

Clamperl slammed into Yanmega again.

Yanmega crashed and bounced a few times before stopping.

Ralph ran to his Pokemon and knelt down beside it. “My friend!”

“Yanmega is defeated, and Clamperl wins!” June informed them.

“Rai Chu!” Raichu added.

Ralph nodded, not taking his eyes from Yanmega. “Thank you for such a good effort. Rest up and let’s train harder next time.”

Yanmega looked up and nodded weakly before lowering its head.

Ralph retreated his Pokemon, smiling sadly. He got to his feet and held out another Poke Ball. “We aren’t gonna give up. We’ll only learn and grow! Let’s show ‘em, Golduck!”

“Goooolduck!” Golduck touched the gem on its forehead.

“Clamperl, use Waterfall again!”

Clamperl struggled with another Burn before using Waterfall again.

“Confusion!” Ralph pointed.

“Gooooool!” Golduck tapped its gem and it gleamed. Its eyes glowed blue and its gem flashed the same color as it then held out its arm.

The wave that came for Golduck was suddenly outlined in blue and started rocking and wavering.

“Claaaaaam? Clam?” Clamperl called out fearfully, riding the now unstable wave.

The wave then ascended... and then curved around, now heading for Clamperl! It slammed right into him!

Clamperl tumbled in the air before ending up rolling on the ground. He remained still.

Everyone watched him.

Nothing happened.

“Hey!” Ralph turned to June angrily. “It’s out, isn’t it? What gives, yo? Why aren’t you calling it?”

Clamperl then burst into flames, screaming. The fire went out quickly.

“Now he’s out.” June didn’t look happy at Ralph’s outburst.

Raichu had his arms crossed, frowning at Ralph. “Rai Chu,” he spoke with disapproval.

“Oh, sorry.” Ralph rubbed the back of his head, smiling. “Well, I finally got one down, huh?” he told Gary, raising a fist. “I told you! We’re in it ‘til the end! Bring it on!”

Gary half-smiled at him and recalled Clamperl. “Thanks, Clamperl.” No better time to get a little training in, Gary thought. “I choose you!” He threw a different Poke Ball.

With a squeaky cry, Skitty appeared. With her front paws extended on the ground, her back end in the air, she stretched out in typical feline fashion, Pokemon or not. She then straightened up and smiled at Golduck.

“A Skitty...” Ralph gave Gary an unimpressed look, slanting his mouth.

“Complain after you win,” Gary smirked. “Use Assist!”

Skitty ran and raised a paw. The paw was surrounded by a white orb, and multiple glowing green leaves came out of it and collided with Golduck.

Golduck stumbled back, crying out from the hits.

Who has that move? Gary wondered. I can’t think of that right now. We’ve got Golduck!

“Golduck, Hydro Pump!” Ralph demanded.

“Gol!” Golduck inhaled and then fired a huge stream at Skitty. “DUUUUCK!!”

Skitty screeched wildly, getting soaked. She slid on the ground and remained still.

“Skitty is unable to keep going! Golduck wins this one, too!” June ruled.

“Rai...” Raichu’s ears were down, a sad look on his face.

“NO WAY!” Gary couldn’t believe it!

“YEAAAAAH!! We got another one!” Ralph celebrated.

“Crap!” Gary complained, returning his Pokemon. “Alright, alright. Good one. Golduck is great!” Gary nodded at the Trainer.

“Thanks! Golduck and I have come a long way from the difficulties of raising Psyduck.”

“It shows! Okay, then. I’m going with this one next!” Gary sent out his next option.

“Nosepass!” Nosepass stood ready.

“A Rock type? Looks like another win for me, then!” Ralph grinned. “Hydro Pump!”

“SPARK!” Gary shouted.

Nosepass ran at Golduck, its body covered in yellow electricity.

Golduck blasted out another Hydro Pump.

The move hit!

“PUUUUUUSH!!” Gary urged.

Nosepass grunted and yelled out, continuing right through the Water type move!

Ralph’s eyes bulged.

June’s eyes bulged.

Raichu’s eyes bulged!

“SPARK ATTAAAAAAAAACK!!!”

“PAAAAAAAAAAAAASS!!” Nosepass slammed into Golduck, shocking the Water type.

Both Pokemon flew back from each other, giving in to the other’s move.

Both Pokemon fell over.

June ran into the middle of the battle and looked back and forth between the two.

“Nose...” Nosepass grunted, shakily getting back to its feet.

June nodded and looked over to Golduck. She raised one hand. “Golduck is unable to battle! Nosepass is the winner!”

“RAAAAICHU!” Raichu joined in.

Ralph stared blankly at his fallen Pokemon. “I can’t believe it.” He grabbed Golduck’s Poke Ball. “Golduck, relax for a while. Great effort, man.”

Golduck was returned.

“It’s all up to you, Poliwhirl. And I know you’ve got this!” Ralph sent out his final Pokemon.

“Poliwhirl!” Poliwhirl appeared.

Poliwhirl. The Tadpole Pokemon. It lives in water, but when out of it, it sweats to keep its body moist. This sweat is more of an oily fluid that lets it slip from enemies. It hunts bugs and fish, and is not above hunting on land and dragging the prey back down underwater to feast in peace.

“Hydro Pump will finish this! Let’s get our third win!”

Poliwhirl attacked on command.

“Watch out, Nosepass!” Gary told it.

Nosepass’ bulky self could just barely stumble backwards.

Somehow, Hydro Pump actually ended up missing! It went off to the side a bit, just clearing Nosepass!

Ralph howled like a wolf, infuriated by this.

“Discharge!” Gary pointed.

Multiple bolts of electricity came from Nosepass’ body and zipped over to Poliwhirl.

“WhirlWhirlWhirlWhirlWhirl!!” Poliwhirl stumbled backwards after the move ended and fell to its back.

June waved to Gary. “Poliwhirl is defeated, making Nosepass the winner of this battle! I declare Gary the winner!”

“RAICHU! RAICHU RAICHUUUUU!!” Raichu was overjoyed by the results.

Gary let out a breath and walked over to Nosepass. “Good stuff, there, man.” He patted his Rock Pokemon on the back and then went over to Ralph.

Ralph walked slowly over to Poliwhirl. He sighed and rubbed at his eyes for a moment.

Gary started to feel a little bad.

Ralph smiled as his hand went down and he looked to Gary. “Thought I had gotten you down to three at least. Stinkin’ Hydro Pump, huh? We’ve got so much more training to do. I mean, unless you’re gonna be the Champ of the League this year! Then I know why I lost so bad!” He went on laughing.

Gary laughed a little with him, but he cut it short.

Ralph then stopped and returned Poliwhirl. “Thanks for the battle, yo.” He sighed again. “Damn.” He held out a hand.

Gary took it and they shook.

“Hey, man, good luck, okay? You’re gonna go far with that power. Peace!” The kid turned and walked off towards the Pokemon League building.

Gary turned to his Nosepass. “That was excellent! Good job hanging in there. Return!”

“Wow, Gary. Look at you! Winning so well. Congratulations!” June pat his shoulder.

“Thanks, June.” He looked after where the kid had left. “I hope he keeps training and continues on to do well in the League. I hope he keeps going.”

“Hope you didn’t destroy his dreams and livelihood by wrecking him in that battle? Hope you didn’t send him home crying to his mommy?” June rolled her eyes, smiling teasingly at him.

“That’s not what I was trying to say!” Gary frowned at her. He started walking ahead towards the Pokemon League building.

Before long, they were by a huge lake, what could have passed for a city right behind it. Towering buildings and crowds of people were inside, setting up stands, walking through carrying large objects in groups, and just taking in the sights.

“Wow, look at everyone here,” Gary said. “They’re setting things up before this thing begins.”

“Only a few days left, after all,” June added.

Something popped up out of the lake, startling the three!

Gary froze, trying not to freak out and rationalizing what the thing was.

“Oh?” June uttered.

“Raichu?” Raichu stared at the being.

“Sloooooow.” It was a Slowpoke! It crawled out of the water on all fours, only its tail remaining under.

With a sharp cry, something else leaped out of the water!

“Hey, a Shellder, too!” June and Gary uttered at nearly the same time.

“Shelldeeeeerr!” the Shellder cried.

“A wild Slowpoke and Shellder out here? Now way! I can totally catch them both!” Ralts? Maybe Hitmonchan? Nah, I know! Gary quickly grabbed a Poke Ball to send out a Pokemon.

“NAH NAH NAH NAH NAH NAH NAH NAH NAH NAH!! NAH MAN!! NAH! THAT’S MY POKEMON!!” a voice came from behind the group.

Everyone turned to see a short guy approaching.

He had short black hair, but the middle was a risen mohawk. On his colored face, appearing to be of Indian descent, was a goatee as well as a pair of glasses. He had a green shirt and dark blue jeans, his feet in dark colored sneakers, white on the bottom. On his back was a little green satchel. He looked like a little elf from a fairytale, with his little ancient bag of tricks and mystery. He was waving one hand at them, a pissed off look on his face. “Those two are mine, yo! Nah, chill!”

“How are they yours?” June put her hands on her hips.

“Yeah, we saw them! You can’t just claim them like that! No way, dude!” Gary stepped forward.

The two stopped in front of each other.

The grown man was actually only Gary’s height. “Listen, I can prove it. This is Shellder’s Poke Ball.” The man pulled out a Poke Ball from his pocket. “Return!” He held it out and Shellder was pulled inside. “Just so happens I was with this Shellder around here, where I was working, and he found a Slowpoke and latched on and evolved. That makes them evolve into Slowbro and makes them both mine. Then they got separated, back at my house, so, that Slowpoke is still mine.”

“But, that means Slowpoke is wild, doesn’t it? How is Slowpoke just yours? He should be allowed to catch Slowpoke!” June argued.

Shellder. The Bivalve Pokemon. And Slowpoke, the Dopey Pokemon. These two Pokemon share a unique relationship in that, when a Shellder bites onto a Slowpoke, Slowpoke will evolve, and Shellder will undergo a metamorphosis. When bitten on the tail, they become Slowbro, the Hermit Crab Pokemon. When bitten on the head, they may become Slowking, the Royal Pokemon. When either Slowking or Slowbro lose their Shellder, they revert back to their previous forms.

“Wow. Well, then there’s really only one way to resolve this, isn’t there?” Gary put away his Pokedex and replaced it quickly with a Poke Ball. “GO!” He threw it at the Slowpoke.

Slowpoke was hit and pulled inside of the ball.

The ball landed and rocked back and forth, the red light blinking.

PING!

“HEY!” the guy screamed and ran up to the Poke Ball. “NAH, MAN! WHAT DID YOU DO??” He glared at Gary.

The Poke Ball started to glow white and then vanished.

“Just proved you never owned that Slowpoke!” Gary smiled smugly. “If you had, that wouldn’t have worked.”

“It’s not about that!” The guy stomped up to Gary.

Gary stood his ground, wondering if he was going to have to fight a grown, though very short, man.

“That was legit mine, dude! Come on, the Shellder was mine, so the Slowbro was mine, so the Slowpoke was mine!”

“Like he said, then he couldn’t have been able to catch it!” June and Raichu walked over to them. “Back off! How did you even lose them to begin with?”

The guy sighed. “Man! It was during an experiment I was working on!”

“An experiment?” Gary questioned.

“I told you, I work around here. I’m a Scientist. You can call me Scientist Gary.”

“Gary?!” both June and Gary burst out.

“But, that’s my name, too!” Gary exclaimed.

“Oh. Well, we have the same name, then,” Scientist Gary shrugged.

“So what kind of experiment was it?”

Scientist Gary stared at the kids uncertainly. Then, he looked around. “It’s nothing...”

“Are you doing something illegal or something?” Gary asked, crossing his arms.

“No, no. I mean, it’s not illegal. You can call the police if you like. I can’t be arrested for it.” The Scientist rubbed at his face.

“So why can’t you just tell us what you did to Shellder and Slowpoke?”

He looked around again. “It’s not illegal, but I never said it wasn’t controversial. It’s a Pokemon Generating System. PGS for short. It’s used to maximize a Pokemon’s potential only to its naturally attainable limits, not exceeding them in any way or causing any kinds of abnormalities or side effects. Few before me have tried it in other regions, but their goals were selfishly motivated. I’m not about that. I just want to make things a little easier to make Pokemon more powerful without so much effort. There’s all that EVs and IVs and struggles in raising a Pokemon, and in the end, most Trainers have worked their whole lives to raise their Pokemon to their best, and end up with a failure of a Pokemon and don’t even know it. Raising a Pokemon properly is so specific, from day one. There’s fixes most people don’t even know of to sort out these issues, too. It’s too confusing. I’m trying to get around all that with the use of a shot, or a pill, or a meal. Like the Vitamins you can buy, only way better and a lot cheaper. I’ll be rich! And everyone can have top tier Pokemon instantly!”

Everyone was quiet.

Gary, June, and Raichu stared at Scientist Gary with blank stares.

“What?” Scientist Gary asked. “Let me guess. It’s immoral? It’s wrong? There’s nothing like earning the experience naturally, with battles and strategy and winning fair and square? Look, I’m not here to knock anyone’s way of raising and training their Pokemon. All I’m saying is, this will make life soooo much easier.”

“It’s like cheating, though! It’s not natural!” June spoke up, cutting off Gary. “Everyone should make it their own way, and earn their experience. It shouldn’t be a power contest! Things aren’t always about power!”

“You’re right!” Scientist Gary agreed. “This isn’t going to stop raw skill and talent from winning. It just skips the effort to have the power to support that talent! You can’t go into a battle with a weak Pokemon and win, no matter how good your strategy is! You need the power and training to back it up! I’m helping skip that training, in a way. Not entirely, but I’m making it easier!”

“You’re just... selling steroids!”

Scientist Gary looked ready to scream back at her but he paused and let out his breath in a sigh. “Like I said, this isn’t without its controversy. It’s still in the works, and what I do sell, I don’t sell to anyone competing in the League. This isn’t illegal, but selling to competitors would be. I’m not trying to get arrested. It’s just; it’s not banned. So, I can technically keep doing this, but anyone caught using the stuff in official competitions would be banned. While the fight is going on to prove that this method is just as legal as any Stat boosting Vitamin on the market, I can’t make this entirely public. I can do my business, but I have to play it smart. So, the less traffic you draw my way, the better. I... hope you understand.”

“So you’re selling your drugs secretly, at the Pokemon League, and want to stay discreet about it,” June leered at Scientist Gary.

Scientist Gary sighed and his shoulders slumped. “Look, you took my Slowpoke. Let’s call it even, okay?”

“And no one in the League is using this method?” Gary pressed him.

“I promise, dude. I don’t even support the League. It’s just where so many Trainers gather, so I figured I can make a good enough business here to survive, you know? Unless they can prove they’re not competitors, or they’ve lost, I don’t sell it. Me and Gible are just trying to get by.”

“Gible?”

“Yeah, this guy here.” He held out a Poke Ball and sent out something small.

“Gible!” A little Pokemon smiled and held up its hands.

“This is my Gible. He’s my favorite Pokemon. Garchomp, I mean. But, for now, I have my Gible and I couldn’t be happier.”

Gible. The Land Shark Pokemon. A Dragon and Ground type. A very friendly Pokemon with a dangerous streak. While it loves to play-fight, it’s best it does so with others of its own species, or those with a strong hide. Its own clumsiness leads to it hurting itself with its powerful jaws.

“Gible!” Gible spoke up again, keeping its hands up.

“Aw, cute.” June said that, but she spoke shortly, her voice seeming a little restrained, like it was forced. She then squinted suspiciously at Scientist Gary. “But what stops anyone who does buy it, from competing in the future?”

“Nothing,” Scientist Gary nodded. He didn’t speak after that.

“So then...!” June started, frowning.

“But my goal is still the same, even if that does happen,” Scientist Gary went on, stopping June. “To prove this is as legal as anything on the market. It has the same results as anything else you can legally buy, and is literally untraceable. I can only be caught by being told on! This could be legalized any day now! The fight continues! If people using it were caught, it only pushes the discussion, which I want to happen. But we can’t change the laws without breaking them and bringing a defense to the forefront. And besides, if the government could make bread off of it, they’d have legalized it ages ago. They’re just mad they didn’t come up with it first and don’t want the little guy to get paid. Man, I don’t even use that stuff on Gible! I love my Gible how he is. I’m not a battler. I don’t trust the Pokemon Leagues or any of these government associated structures. It’s all a conspiracy against the Trainers if you ask me.”

“A conspiracy? For what?” June asked, staring at him curiously.

Oh, great... Gary thought. This guy is some kind of conspiracy theorist?

“I watch a lot of those V-UTube videos on the topic. You guys ever see those?”

“Nah... Not really. Traveling and all that.” Gary let out a light laugh.

“Yeah...” was all June said.

“You guys should check it out. I could give you a list on all this stuff. It’s why I don’t battle.”

You don’t battle, but you are trying to fight for the right to enhance Pokemon for battles? What? Gary kept to himself. He didn’t wish to express this out loud and just wanted to get away from this weird guy.

“These PokeTubers I follow even have stuff on the Pokedex and all the lies it has. I’m telling you, it’s crazy.” He stared at them, shaking his head.

Oh, hell no, a False Dexer? Yeah, I’m out of here, Gary decided. “Well! We have to be going. Gotta register and decide my teams and all that good stuff. Hopefully I’ll be fine, though. Thanks! Good luck! Bye!”

“Yeah, take care! We’re kind of in a rush!” June grabbed Gary’s hand and moved past Scientist Gary.

Gary cried out as he was forced to follow her, but grateful to be taken away.

“COME FIND ME INSIDE SO I CAN GIVE YOU GUYS THAT LIST!!” Scientist Gary called out, cupping his hands around his mouth. “I’M STATIONED IN THE CABIN!! JUST LOOK FOR IT! IT STANDS OUT! YOU CAN’T MISS IT!”

Gary and June waved back at him as they continued running and entered the Pokemon League Village.

Crowds and stands were littered about, people setting up their future shops, others standing and pointing and laughing, and others trying to get through it all.

“This is probably a good place to get some information on where to go.” Gary pointed at a huge building resembling a Pokemon Center, and he led the way inside. The lobby was full of Trainers, the group having to politely excuse and at times physically force their way through the noisy people. Gary spotted the Nurse Joy and Chansey sitting behind the counter. His heart started to beat rapidly as he approached her.

“Welcome to the Pokemon League Village!” Nurse Joy greeted them with a smile. “Are you two registering to compete in the Indigo League?”

“Just me, Nurse Joy,” Gary responded, giving her his best smile.

“Oh, that’s fine!” Nurse Joy gushed lovingly.

“Yeah, it took a lot to get here, and I’m so grateful for the journey. The trials and tribulations led me here, to bask in your beauty, to inhale your fragrance, to admire your soft, luscious hair,” Gary tumbled out his feelings.

“Oh, my!” Nurse Joy touched her cheeks, blushing. Her eyes then looked off to Gary’s side.

Gary didn’t pay attention to this. “To think, someone as wonderful as you would be my entry into the Pokemon League. Perhaps, you could be my entry into true love. I think-”

*

“Thanks...” Gary groaned, an ice pack covering his entire face, laying on his back on his bottom bunk bed.

“Oh, aaany tiiime,” June said with delight from her bottom bunk bed. “As a previous Gym Leader, registering you in while you were knocked the crap out of was a breeeze! And with Hitmonchan’s strength, it was easy to drag your lifeless body all the way here, and then up the stairs to our room.”

“Glad it was a simple experience,” Gary mumbled, wishing the throbbing of his head would end.

“We’ll be here for a few days, still, before the League starts,” June mentioned.

“Plenty of time to keep training up more Pokemon. I’ve been thinking of raising that Pidgey I have to maybe become Pidgeot. That’d be cool to have.”

“Yeah. Train up all you can! There’s gonna be a lot tougher competitors than that Ralph kid.”

“I’ll be fine as long as that Gary Scientist is true to his word.”

“Yeah. I have mixed feelings about going to the police about him or not...”

There was silence after that.

Gary’s mind swam with a flurry of memories, his body overtaken by a collision of emotions. Tears ran silently from his eyes, down the sides of his face. He didn't wipe them away, just hoping June didn’t see them as he continued to think. All the things I've been through, he thought, have led me to this very moment. The time has finally arrived. It's time to take all I've been through and show it to the world.

Flashes of multiple times in his life, both before and during his Pokemon journey, began to pop up and vanish in his head.

I'll do my very best, he promised. I have to.

For Beedrill, he remembered.

For Absol, he remembered.

For Barboach.

For all of my Pokemon who have gotten me this far and stuck by me.

For all of the Pokemon I’ve been entrusted with to care for, whether I’ve gotten the chance to raise them or not.

For Prof. Oak.

June.

For Robin, Aly, and Kiwi.

And for Melissa...

Gary’s entire life played out in his head.

Ending with him right there in bed.

At the Indigo League.