“Gaaaaaaaaaaaa!” Gastly flew back from the hit from a bright light.

“WHOA!” Gary was stunned by the sudden act as well as confused. What was that?

A Tyrogue stood in front of the downed Gastly, bouncing on what would be the toes of his feet.

Gary watched as Primeape and Fashioned, which was Robin’s traded Scizor, fought skillfully. Primeape swung with seemingly a lot less control, Fashioned reacting with more professional slices. Either way, both had more missed hits than actually landed ones.

Gary’s Pidgeotto, nicknamed Sabrina, was using Special Attack moves, while Clamperl was instructed to only do Attack moves.

Hoothoot was in the air, watching as Ralts powered up a Thunderbolt.

So far, all of Ralts attempts to successfully use the move failed, only getting so far as to create sparks around his body for prolonged periods of time.

“RRRRROGUE!!” The Bulked Up Tyrogue soared into Electivire’s back with Bullet Punch, Electivire whining out painfully.

Swiftly, he twisted around and reached out to grab Tyrogue.

Tyrogue was ready, leaping into the air and around the large hands of Electivire. Landing, he jumped at Electivire with Tackle, toppling the brute over.

Ralts had his head down, breathing hard.

Hoothoot settled down on one foot and cocked his head, keeping his stare on Ralts.

Primeape delivered a blow to the middle of Fashioned’s now metallic body.

When the metal went away, Fashioned’s pincers both went together behind her back and swung up into the air and around to come right back down on Primeape’s head.

Primeape slid on his back, twitching in pain.

Sabrina used Gust, but Clamperl held his ground and when the wind died out, he leaped at Sabrina as a bluish-white aura engulfed him, closing on Sabrina as he reached her. Both Pokemon hit the ground together.

“RALTS! COME ON!! USE THUNDERBOLT!” Gary barked. He threw his hands up and stomped over to the two battlers.

Fashioned, Primeape, Clamperl, Sabrina, and Hoothoot all stopped and turned to watch.

Gary stopped right over Ralts and placed his hands on his hips, scowling down at the little Pokemon.

Ralts whimpered and cowered.

Tyrogue’s eyes glowed yellow for a moment before returning back to normal.

“LECTIVIIIIIIIIRE!!” Electivire zapped the area with Thunder.

Tyrogue looked in various directions; right, left, up, all around, and followed each glance by running, bouncing, jumping, and rolling out of the way of various bolts from Thunder!

Gary stared at his whimpering Ralts. “Ralts...” he whispered, and felt himself calming down. His eyes closed as he placed a hand to the side of his head and kneeled down. His eyes opened on his Pokemon and then he lowered his hand to the ground. “Ralts.” He extended his hand. Before he could reach Ralts, his hand stopped as the horn on his Pokemon’s head glowed light blue. “Whoa. That thing again.”

Ralts smiled and held Gary’s hand, squeaking cutely.

Gary smiled back before using his free hand to grab his Pokedex and used it on Ralts.

Ralts can use their psychic powers to read the emotions of others with an empathy considered by many to be unique to the species. The Pokedex spoke in a lighter male’s voice, unlike the deeper one Gary was used to.

Gary lowered the Pokedex and smiled at his Pokemon. “Hm. I think I get it now... I’m sorry, man. I’m good now, though.” Standing, he said to everyone, “I’m going through a lot, and I shouldn’t be taking it out on any of you guys. You’re doing great, Ralts. You all are!”

His Pokemon turned to each other happily and then back to Gary, nodding.

“Maybe that’s enough training for now.” He stared up at the slowly brightening sky, the sun taking its time.

His Pokemon all watched with him in silence, taking in the beautiful view in the woods.

Both Pokemon stood in front of each other, breathing hard, leering.

Electivire held out a fist to Tyrogue, but didn’t strike.

Tyrogue smirked and reached out a fist to touch Electivire’s. “ROOOOOOOOOOOOGUE!!” Tyrogue was electrified and fell over, hit by Thunder Punch.

“But after lunch later, we’re gonna do some more intensive training,” Gary returned, his stern eyes on his Pokemon. “It’s not gonna be fun and games, either. These Pokemon are just as good as you all are.” He turned to his Pokemon who were already staring back. “One, even stronger, for sure. Goal is to beat him before we get to the League. We can’t be competing half assed. Right?” He raised a determined fist.

His Pokemon called back at him strongly.

Gary nodded.

There was a sudden rustle in the woods that grabbed everyone’s attention.

“Tyyyyy!” Tyrogue leaped up and boxed Gary right in the side of the head!

“AAAAAH!!” Gary raged, holding his injured, throbbing area. “WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT??!” Overcome by his anger, blinded, even, Gary released his head and punched Tyrogue right back in the head!

Tyrogue frowned back. “TY!” Tyrogue threw a punch for Gary’s leg.

Gary cried out and dropped to his knees. “You little!”

With Tyrogue digging his fingers in his Trainer’s face, Gary was holding down Tyrogue’s head and delivering punches.

“Electivirrrrre...” Electivire growled, breathing heavy. His horns sparked.

Gary and his Pokemon took a step back. The Trainer then swallowed and frowned at the Pokemon. I can’t back down. He’s back from... whatever he does when he chooses to come out, so... Now what? Gary yawned due to the early hour, having gotten a few hours of sleep in before waking up randomly in the middle of the night and deciding to stay up and train. Before letting out his Pokemon, he woke himself up even further by doing some push-ups, sit-ups, and jogging after he brushed his teeth.

Electivire used Thunderbolt, and a white beam sent out a Pokemon from within June’s bag that sat at a distance on the ground.

“Rai-chuuuuu!” Frowning, Raichu’s arms raised.

Electivire’s Thunderbolt curved away from Gary and his Pokemon and hit Raichu, surrounding him in electricity.

Raichu’s determined face never changed, even after the attack ended. “Rai! Raichu!”

Electivire growled at Raichu and flexed his arms.

Gary’s eyes were wide at the cold, blue-grey eyes of Gym Leader Hitomi. Whoa... She’s something else entirely! Gary’s mouth opened. Hello, he thought to himself. Gary was then hit with a powerful blow, and he collapsed to the ground, facefirst.

Raichu’s ears lowered and he looked back at Electivire with worry now. “Rai...?”

“Take it easy, Electivire!” Gary insisted, taking a brave step forward. With Raichu here, at least I can’t get zapped, Gary thought comfortingly. But I can still get physically knocked around...

“Vire,” Electivire said shortly, sharply, and sat on the grassy dirt, soon laying out on his back and going to sleep.

Whether that’s a sign of disrespect or not, I’ll take it, Gary breathed out gratefully.

Raichu looked up at Gary, his ears still down. There was a more mournful look in his eyes. “Rai?”

Gary stared back, knowing that Raichu wasn’t acting the same, and he was sure he knew why.

“ROGUE!”

Something hit Gary in the face. And he blacked out.

Gary tossed the Poke Ball with the E sticker into the air, catching it with the same hand, repeating the action while staring at Electivire. Well, he is asleep now... Gary thought, and he held out the Poke Ball.

Electivire whipped his head towards Gary and opened his eyes. They were glowing blue.

Gary yelled out as his body was also outlined in blue and he began to ascend into the air.

“Rai! Raaaai! Rai!” Raichu called from the ground with his wide eyes on Gary.

Hoothoot, Sabrina, Ralts, Clamperl, Primeape, and Fashioned also watched in shock, shouting to their Trainer as he kept ascending.

“Scizor!” Fashioned zoomed in a flash at Electivire to use Bullet Punch.

At the same time, Electivire zipped forward for Fashioned using Quick Attack.

At the same time, the blue around Gary vanished, and he screamed as he dropped from high up.

With his eyes closed, Tyrogue reached out his own fist and connected it with Electivire’s.

Electivire’s fist sparked.

At the same time, Tyrogue’s body was surrounded in a white light, blinding everyone! The light faded off of the Pokemon, and Hitmonchan was revealed. “Hitmonchan!”

“Electivire!” Electivire smiled and held out a fist.

Hitmonchan raised a fist and the two touched.

A huge spark started between the two!

Gary called out and groaned in pain as he hit the ground on his back. Rolling over onto his side and holding himself up with one arm, he watched Fashioned and Electivire eye each other with barely an inch between them.

Electivire raised one of his bandaged arms and pulled back a fist. The instant it burst into Fire, he swung on Fashioned.

Fashioned was gone in a flash, avoiding the move, and then moved just as fast to collide with Electivire.

Electivire barely budged and swung his other flaming fist to drop Scizor.

“Sciiii...” Scizor croaked motionlessly.

“Doof!!” Gary’s face was rocked after gawking at a sexy jogger, and he spun in a circle twice before landing on his back. Quickly, he sat up and shook his head, glaring around him, spotting instantly who he was looking for, and kicked out, toppling over Hitmonchan as he cried out in surprise.

Hitmonchan and Gary were scuffling in the middle of the grassy field!

Electivire turned to Raichu.

Raichu’s fur stood on end, his ears high as he cried out in fear.

This made Electivire smirk and snicker. He nodded and then looked to Gary sharply.

Gary jumped a little, visibly.

“Lect.” Satisfied, Electivire laid on his back again and was soon snoring.

Gary growled, tightening his fists as he eyed Electivire angrily. “Electivire...” he whispered. He pondered trying to return the Pokemon. I’ll beat you. I can’t be the best, until I beat you.

SLAP! Gary slapped the laid out Hitmonchan.

The Pokemon was cut up, scarred, bruised, and his chest looked smashed and covered in blood after Team Solace’s attack at the Indigo League had been stopped.

Gary ignored all of that, sure Hitmonchan was alright, and slapped him harder than before. SLAP! And then again with more force. SLAP!! And once more with greater power. His hand then rose into the air and became a fist, and he punched Hitmonchan! Tears fell from his eyes and onto his Pokemon. “COME OOOOOOOOOOOOON!!!! GET THE FUCK UUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!” Gary kept punching Hitmonchan. One fist, the other fist, over and over again, tears rolling down his face nonstop. Crying louder, heaving, bawling, he kept swinging on his Pokemon, sure he would wake up eventually.

Gary shuddered in place, sitting in the dirt.

The only Pokemon out was Electivire, still snoring many feet away.

Tears were falling out of Gary’s eyes continuously. He closed his eyes to try to keep them in, but this failed, tears squeezing their way out.

June suddenly shrieked.

Gary could hear something else. He looked up.

Something bright was flying in the sky over the Indigo League stadium, glowing like a shooting meteorite. A huge diamond in the sky. It was out of sight in a short time.

For some reason, Gary suddenly felt comforted. He couldn’t explain it, but all of a sudden, everything in life felt okay.

Gary’s tears stopped as he reflected on this last memory. As he replayed it in his head, he found that he didn’t understand it. What was that light? Just a meteorite? Hitmonchan... Gary found himself even more confused as he pondered the final night at the Indigo League over a year ago. My crying stopped so simply there. Too easily, Gary thought curiously. I felt... okay? Happy? Maybe I was in shock and my body just shut down on feelings. I wasn’t ready to handle that loss at that time. Now... Now, I’m a mess. He wiped at his cheeks with both hands and sniffled. Now... I have another Baby, Fighting type Pokemon. Riolu. What are the odds? Gary looked over.

Electivire was still snoring, louder than ever.

Gary looked over at June’s bag near him. He then looked to his own bag at his other side. He stared at it quietly for a while, thinking. Finally, he blinked hard twice. That phone. I need to see if it’s working. I need information... He crawled over to his bag and sat on his knees, unzipping it. Before long, he came out with the square, white Flipbook Mini. Does it still work? Gary wondered, and then cut it on. Yes!

The phone turned on, showing the picture of multiple different Trick Masters on the lock screen. They all wore different suits with bowties of different sizes, and they all were smiling huge for the photo and were all in different positions. Some of the guys were upside down while others were on top of trees. A few even had their arms around one another. They all were in a park full of balloons, benches, banners, and other decorations, tables topped with varying foods. The occupants all looked like the Trick Master, though it was hard to confirm if they all indeed were the same guy.

Gary placed his thumb on the screen and keeping it down, strummed his other four fingers across it in turn.

The lock screen was gone, the background revealed. A variety of apps were lined up on the screen, but behind them was the background of an open field. In the grass were large blocks, each one a different color. Something seemed to be hiding behind a few of them. Only the shadow of the figure was revealed at all.

Gary hit a symbol on the bottom of the screen that read nothing more than the numbers 12345. He was taken to a keypad and paused for a while, thinking his decision over. He finally changed his mind and pressed a series of numbers, and then hit a symbol at the bottom that looked like a black phone receiver. The screen went light blue, the words CALLING... visible in thick black letters. He raised the phone to his ear.

“I’m sorry, this phone is out of service. Please pay your phone bill, or, purchase an MFC,” a mechanical female’s voice spoke.

Gary lowered the phone and sighed. “Thought so. Dead.” He hit the symbol of a phone receiver laid down, and the call ended. “Okay, but once I get out of these woods...” He looked for the bars to show how strong the phone’s internet data signal was, but that wasn’t there. Instead there was a circle with a backslash through it where it otherwise would have shown bars for the reception to make calls. “The Pokemon Center oughta have reception. I can go online there.” He dropped the phone back in the bag. Breathing out, he fell out on his back and just listened to Electivire snore. Eventually, his eyes closed.

The monster roared at June.

June screamed back at the monster, but in terror.

One of the monster’s hands rose, and her other hand behind her then reached out, and the strange ball flew out from it.

June took a step back.

The ball resembled a Poke Ball, the top half a blue-gray color, the bottom pale green, and it hit her. It hovered in the air and then opened, and an orange beam came out, hitting June and making her glow orange.

June screamed as she was turned completely into a shapeless, orange energy and pulled inside of the ball!

The monster stepped up to the ball and picked it up, and then looked to Gary with a threatening sneer. “Once I have figured out this human, I shall kill her. And your unworthy Pokemon. If I have to. One by one. And last, you.”

*

“Alright Magneton and Galvantula, get back!” Gary recalled the two Pokemon, and after dropping the two Poke Balls into June’s bag, rubbed at his shoulders with a shudder. Galvantula really had to be one of the ones to be okay in all of this? Gary regretted thinking that, but he also couldn’t help it. I have to travel with that thing? What do I do? Do I get to use June’s Pokemon in battles? Gary was picking up the food bowls June’s three Pokemon had finished eating from. I can’t use another person’s Pokemon in a Gym battle. Is it disrespectful to use them? Will they even listen to me to begin with? He stood up straight, the area cleaned up, and he turned around.

Electivire was staring into Gary’s eyes.

Gary looked down and off to the side, at Raichu.

“Raaaaiii...” Raichu looked down and off to the side as a large bead of sweat trickled down his face.

Gary breathed out a sigh. “Alright, you two.” He pulled out his Pokedex, fiddling with it for a bit. “We’re a couple of days away from our first Gym. The Powerzone Gym, in... the middle of the woods? Literally? It’s an official Gym, not in a city or town?” Gary was reading the information on his Pokedex. “A Dark type Gym Leader named... Cas. Whoa...” Viewing the image of the Gym Leader, Gary’s eyes widened.

The image shown was of a pale, young girl shrouded in shadows. She was perhaps even close to Gary’s age. Her long black hair rested at the sides of her face and in her eyes. Her eyes themselves were practically ovals. Her lips were very dark, indistinguishable between black and a possible red. One hand was at her face, a finger raised against her cheek. Gary’s attention was caught as he noticed her fingernails on that hand weren’t painted dark, which stood out a little with the dark style of the photograph.

An emo Gym Leader? Gary thought. She’s... cute though! Those eyes... Her lips! She’s... Gary suddenly flinched and whipped around in a circle. All he saw was Electivire and Raichu, who watched him warily. “Huh??” Gary was breathing hard, his hands raised defensively for no clear reason. “Wait. He’s...” Gary’s head lowered as tears filled his eyes. “Right...” he whispered. “He isn’t coming.” He stared at his Pokedex again. “So, the Powerzone Gym is first. We’ll be there in three days max. Let’s hurry up, burn off this food, get in some training, and get our first Badge.” With a hardened face, his eyes no longer carrying tears, Gary shook his shoulders, confirming his backpack was on his back, and then hoisted June’s bag onto his right shoulder and led the way through the woods.

Raichu following behind him.

Electivire following behind them.

The past Gary couldn’t forget if he wanted to.

Following closely beside him.