Gary could see Melissa’s gentle, light-blue eyes staring out at him. Her straight black hair shining. Her small lips turned up into a caring smile he missed so much. “Gary, I'm off to become the best Pokemon Trainer in the world. I look forward to the day you and I battle for the ultimate title! I’ll be seeing you soon!”

  He could feel her last hug she ever gave him, and then the gentle kiss on his cheek, which he reluctantly returned.

  Melissa and her Starter Pokemon Bulbasaur headed off on Route 1 as Gary, his mom, Robin, Kiwi, Aly, and the rest of Pallet Town waved her off.

  “Kirlia.”

  “Ri!”

  Both small Pokemon of nearly matching height faced each other and then turned to Gary again.

  “Ri!”

  “Kirlia.”

  Frowning, Gary closed his eyes and let out a growl. “Sorry. I just...” He breathed out tiredly. After a moment, he took a deep breath and wiped at his eyes. Clearing his throat, he shook his head. “Again,” he said determinedly. He was sat in the snow with his legs crossed, leering at Riolu and Kirlia.

  The two Pokemon stood staring back at him with wide eyes.

  June was quietly sitting away from them, holding her silent Raichu with one of her hands over his mouth.

  Raichu had both of his paws on June’s hand in return.

  Electivire stood by the trees, the furthest away, poorly hiding his interest in what was going on.

  It was a bright day, the cold air sharp and brisk, but not too windy. No snow was falling, but that didn’t make traveling any easier.

  Gary closed his eyes, welcoming in silence, blocking out the sound of his own breathing, or even the acknowledgement of his own existence. Just opening his mind to his Pokemon. He didn’t focus on the cold, letting himself give in to it. Letting it do what it was going to do without any resistance from him. It was like he wasn’t even cold anymore. He was just in a void all to himself, self-content. At least, that’s what he was trying to convince himself he was doing.

  There I am, Gary saw. There we are. Again. Even though his eyes were still closed, Gary could see Riolu, Kirlia, and even himself. They all had their eyes closed, but were focusing on one another.

  It was only them in a void of dark shades of blue. The sky was the darkest shade, passing for black. Perhaps it was black. A stream of dark blue stretched along the space where the sky and ground seemed to meet. The ground itself was only a little lighter than the sky. It was nearly impossible to notice the differences. It was all so beautiful. It was haunting. It was discomforting. It was all there was.

  Gary, Riolu, and Kirlia were coated in light blue, and this coating was outlined in an even finer shade of blue. Blues blending into blues.

  It had taken them well over an hour of sitting in silent cold to get to this point, Gary finally able to give himself to the experience. To put the cold out of his mind by succumbing to it. He also believed that if he could do this under intensely cold weather, when they were in more warmer temperatures it would be that much easier.

  But it was hard to stay in this state of mind. Once there, things felt cooler, but on the inside. It wasn’t his body that was freezing, but his - soul? Heart? Mind? It was a gripping chill on his skeleton instead of his body, like an unwanted, invasive hug.

  An absorption into a blob of freshly chilled gelatin that wasn’t actually all that cold, his body felt like he was walking through a cloud without actually moving. His arms swayed, each one rising and setting in turn opposite his legs, but he wasn’t moving a single muscle. He was so close to coming out of the other side, but he fought against it.

  Gary started finding it easier to find his place in this state without feeling like he was endlessly slipping through it.

  Slowly, like getting out of quicksand, he finally stood tall in this void for the first time. Riolu? Kirlia. Where do we go-?

  Gary fell. Out of the blue. Into the white snow. He inhaled sharply from the sudden brightness and physical cold. He choked out and pushed himself to his knees. “Shit,” he whispered, frowning. He looked to the two Pokemon by him.

  They both nodded strongly.

  “Kirlia!”

  “Ri!”

  Gary nodded back sternly. “Again.”

  *

  “Close Combat!”

  “Fury Attack!”

  Screeching like mad, Infernape threw punches and kicks, jumping and flipping into more acrobatics and Fighting techniques. He was especially Bulked Up from using a couple Bulk Ups earlier, boosting his Attack and Defense stats.

  Empoleon was matching each blow with his own swings and even pecks of his beak. He had been driven into a frenzy from Infernape’s Taunt, but this was after he had gotten a Swords Dance in. Unable to do anything but damage moves, Gary found out Empoleon had a talent for a style of physical combat that countered Infernape’s!

  Rael’s agitated face showed his regret at choosing to infuriate Empoleon.

  “Ri! Ri! Ri!” Riolu was cheering on Empoleon, swinging her paws strongly, her eyes glued to her idol.

  Gary smirked a little at this but then frowned, his eyes back on the battle. Time to end this! “Aqua Jet!”

  “Withstand it!”

  Infernape held out his muscled hands and took Empoleon’s Aqua Jet! “INFERNAPE!” It stumbled back a step but looked otherwise fine, and then forced Empoleon away from it.

  Empoleon remained in his coating of Water and shot up into the sky before the Water fell away in a light shower.

  Infernape was unfazed by this.

  “Mach Punch!”

  “Hydro Pump!” Gary grit his teeth. Shit!

  Infernape leaped as Empoleon came down. Its fists glowed light blue and it socked Empoleon in the face, dropping him hard.

  “Ri! Ri! Ri!” Riolu was urging Empoleon on, swiping out repeatedly. “Ri! Ri! Ri! Ri!”

  Empoleon’s face grimaced and he looked over to Riolu. There was a calmer mode on his face, realization coming over him as the effects of Taunt ended.

  Gary took in a deep breath, snorting. It was hard enough to breathe in the cold, but even harder while sick. “Empoleon! Get up! This isn’t over!”

  Empoleon got to his feet easily. He swiped one fin out swiftly and then looked back to little Riolu and winked.

  “Riiii!” Riolu was starstruck, her mouth open in awe, and she swiped in front of herself, too.

  “Save the damn posing! This is battling time! Hydro Pump!” Gary demanded.

  “We’ll end this with Earthquake!”

  Empoleon inhaled big.

  It’s too late! Gary knew, Infernape jumping up high and returning down hard.

  The ground quaked, Empoleon taken down.

  Riolu and Raichu also fell over.

  “Damn it, man! Shit!!” Gary glared down at Riolu. “What the fuck, Riolu? You broke my concentration! You and Empoleon goofing off!” Angrily, he recalled Empoleon, still glaring at Riolu.

  “That was good, Infernape! Great win!” Rael recalled Infernape. “You suuuuuuure I can’t battle Electivire?” Rael now complained. “Pleeeeeeeeease?”

  Gary frowned at him. “Rael! I already said-!”

  “Just look at him!” Rael insisted.

  Gary looked to see that Electivire had big, pleading eyes on him, silently begging for the chance to battle. He saw June watching Electivire intently, but when June looked back at Gary, he turned away quickly. “I SAID NO!!” Gary shouted. “How many fucking times do I have to say it?!” He looked down at Riolu and pulled his foot back. “And since you screwed me up, how about you make amends!!” And Gary swung his foot out!

  And he froze, now in the space of several shades of blue again. His foot a mere inch from Riolu’s middle, ready to send her flying.

  Slowly, his foot came down and he breathed out slowly, feeling himself come down from an enraged high he didn’t know he was in the midst of.

  Coming out of that so suddenly, he dropped fast, but landed softly.

  He was suddenly back in the cold of the bright snow with June, Rael, Electivire, Raichu and Riolu.

  “Dude, what’s wrong with you? Were you about to kick your own Pokemon over a loss? That’s really not cool! I don’t like people like that! Is that why you’re so strong? You treat your Pokemon like that for losing? You’re an abuser?!”

  Gary stared at Rael, his mouth hanging open but unable to speak. It happened again, he knew. The monster... He looked up into the sky. Of course it did. I’ve been ignoring it, but - I know... Gary stood up, his legs shaky. He held his hands out to balance himself.

  “They say a lot about you on the news, but I didn’t believe it because I thought I knew you! I defended you like an idiot! Made myself look like a fool to defend you! I never thought you’d be the type to abuse a Pokemon. And a Baby at that.”

  “Ri!” Riolu moved through the snow and hugged Gary’s leg. She then glared at Rael and continued barking at him.

  Rael just shook his head at her and then returned to Gary. “And it still defends you. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

  Gary didn’t know what to say. How could he explain the situation to Rael? Who would believe such a tale? A story that Gary didn’t even know how to begin trying to explain! He knew if Riolu hadn’t used her Aura to stop him, he would have kicked her. Knowing that, what could he really say to explain away the act Rael had seen him attempt? There was no excuse, so Gary didn’t speak a word. His eyes fell to the snow and soon closed. He breathed out, wiping at his runny nose with the back of his hand.

  “Gary’s not a bad guy!” June spoke up. “You don’t know him! You don’t understand what’s going on with him!”

  “June! No.” Gary tried stopping her.

  “There’s a lot happening with him. Imagine losing your family, being hunted by a terrorist group, a monster is out to destroy all you know and love about the world around you; that very world is at war with itself! Rael, do you really think I’d be friends with someone who abuses Pokemon? A previous Gym Leader like myself?”

  “You used to be a Gym Leader?” Rael asked, his eyes widening.

  “Yes!” June glared. “June Mendoza of Gringey City, Kanto! Look it up! Electric Gym Leader under the training of Lt. Surge!”

  Silence and a sudden gust of wind surrounded the kids and Pokemon, all eyes on June.

  Rael’s eyes tightened. “Are you two dating?”

  “NO!!” June and Gary shouted together.

  Raichu looked off to the side, a huge, toothy smile on his face. He then shoved his face into the snow.

  Electivire had his head tilted, scratching at the fur at the side of his head.

  “We’re just good friends!” June insisted.

  “Well, I don’t care.” Rael looked to Gary in amazement. “You travel with Gym Leaders, too? Man! I hate you!”

  “Well, I’m an ex-” June tried to reiterate.

  “And hot ones at that?”

  “Oh.” June clasped her hands over her mouth, her eyes wide.

  Even Raichu was blushing, watching June’s reaction with a full, beefy smile.

  Groaning, Electivire rolled his eyes hard.

  Gary just bared his teeth. Ew, he kept to himself, his heart dribbling harder.

  “I’ll look it up later, but if a Gym Leader is on your side, then so am I. Even though these Gyms are just giving out Badges now and cowering and retiring in droves under the pressure of Claire. So I have to support the remaining real Gym Leaders, or else what am I traveling and training for?”

  Gary nodded. “I can’t believe it’s come to this. Everyone’s terrified, Trainers are pissed; it’s crazy.”

  “Of course Trainers are pissed! The Gym Leaders are supposed to be - our leaders! If they’re scared, how are we not supposed to be! We new Trainers, kids, have more heart than the adults who came before us! We have to stand up to this thing and stop it ourselves! Whatever that thing is.” Rael stared at June. “I’m so glad you survived that! You actually got taken away by that thing, and this guy has seen it several times and still lived to tell about it!” Then he stopped and lowered his head, shaking it. “No. I’m sorry. I’d be dead if I ever ran into that thing, I’m sure.” He raised his head, staring at Gary. “But that’s the very reason why I hate you so much! I’m sorry but why are you so cool?!”

  Gary smiled awkwardly and looked down at his Riolu. Their eyes met, and Gary’s embarrassment vanished with his smile. He looked away to his other side, but he could still feel Riolu’s eyes.

  “So, should we continue the battle?” Rael suggested.

  “Oh. Yeah, that.” Gary had forgotten all about it. He looked to Riolu again. “Sorry, Riolu. Thanks.”

  Riolu just shook her head solemnly. “Ri. Ri,” she nodded.

  “And to you, too. I’m sorry, Rael.” Gary sniffled up hard. “I didn’t mean to scream at you.”

  Rael furrowed his eyebrows with concern. “Don’t worry about that, man. I’m sorry... things are how they are. Your girlfriend is right. You’re going through stuff I can’t even dream of and wouldn’t want to. I’m sorry for not realizing that. Maybe a battle isn’t a good idea. Don’t take this the wrong way but, are you sure you should be traveling with Pokemon, though? That was pretty scary what happened!”

  Gary was reminded of one time when he struck Tyranitar out of anger. It didn’t hurt the Pokemon of course, but that wasn’t the point. He’d been feeling impatience with the Rock type and had been abusing him. Mostly verbally, but that didn’t make it much better. It made Rael’s words really stick. What would he think if he knew about that, too? Gary wondered. He was startled by a hand on his shoulder that gripped it reassuringly.

  “He’s in good hands.” June gave Gary’s shoulder a shake. “He’ll be just fine. He’s got me, and his Pokemon. We’re looking out for him.”

  “Raichu!” Raichu smiled, holding up a fist.

  “Ri!” Riolu nodded, smiling up at her Trainer.

  Gary suddenly remembered Rael’s words and frowned at him. “And she’s not my girlfriend!”

  “Riiiight. Anyway, I’m gonna go with Floatzel next. Go!” Rael sent out his next Pokemon.

  The orange creature grunted out at Gary.

  “Floatzel. I remember that thing. What’s the type again?”

  Floatzel. The Sea Weasel Pokemon. Buizel’s evolved form. A Water-type Pokemon with a flotation sac around its neck that developed as a result of chasing prey underwater. This sac behaves similar to rubber and can inflate for Floatzel to float.

  “Right. Pure Water, then,” Gary nodded, putting his Pokedex away. He grabbed a Poke Ball. “Come out!”

  “Snorlax. Snoooor.” Snorlax was revealed.

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  “Ri! Ri!” Riolu jumped for joy but then stopped, covering her mouth and looking over to Gary with wide eyes.

  “Snor! Snorlax.” Snorlax looked back and waved before focusing on Floatzel.

  “Let’s give this a try,” Gary said determinedly.

  “Cool! Then we’ll use Agility! Speed up!” Rael started.

  Floatzel cried out and then ran blinding circles around Snorlax.

  “Snor? Snor! Snor!” She was trying to spot the Water type but it would have been impossible for most Pokemon, let alone a slow, fat one like herself.

  “Agility again!”

  Gary frowned, gritting his teeth and wiping away snot again. Crap! Focus, Gary! Before it’s too late! “Defense Curl! Protect yourself!”

  “Snorlax...” Snorlax sat down and curled up her body into a dark blue-green ball.

  “Oh! Floatzel, let’s attack instead! Go for Hydro Pump!”

  Floatzel stopped running and took in a deep breath before blasting Snorlax.

  She remained in her ball and rolled away fast.

  “Ah, great!” Gary smiled.

  “What?” Rael was watching Snorlax closely now.

  “Rollout!”

  Snorlax’s speed increased and she made a sharp turn, going right back for Floatzel at an even quicker pace!

  “Float-!” Snorlax slammed into Floatzel before Rael could tell his Pokemon to get out of the way.

  Floatzel wailed out as it flew through the air and landed in the soft snow.

  Snorlax rolled away but was gearing up for another shot by spinning in place.

  Floatzel sat up and shook its head.

  “Floatzel, use Hydro Pump again!”

  Floatzel blasted at Snorlax once again.

  “Out of the way!” Gary ordered.

  Still spinning in place, Snorlax managed to dodge.

  Gary couldn’t help but think back on his battle way back in Pewter City against Aurora and her Graveler the first time he challenged her. Her Graveler was so skilled at using Rollout in ways Gary had never seen before or since. But he knew he couldn’t try it himself. Aurora was in a class all to herself.

  After all, I never did defeat her... he thought, sneering. And I almost got Hitmonchan killed trying to- Gary shut his eyes, feeling tears building up. Hearing Floatzel and Rael yell out opened Gary’s eyes to see Snorlax spinning back over to him.

  “Gary,” June spoke up. “Is everything okay?”

  He looked at her for a second and then went back to the fight. “Keep it going, Snorlax!” He did a double take, seeing that Riolu was also staring up at him. He looked away and insisted in a low voice, “I’m fine.”

  “Damn it! Use Swift attack! That won’t miss!” Rael urged.

  Floatzel jumped high in the air and flipped, swinging out its tail, several yellow stars flying out.

  Still spinning in her ball form, Snorlax jumped, coming for Floatzel. Swift curved and hit her, and she unraveled from her ball form.

  Floatzel landed, looking ready to keep going. That was until it looked up at the falling Snorlax. Its eyes widened and it managed a short shout before Snorlax landed on it. “Zeeeeeel...” it croaked out, only its head visible.

  “Floatzel!” Rael ran over and returned his Pokemon. “That was overkill, yo! Come on!” he screamed sadly at Gary.

  “I didn’t plan on that.” Gary wiped his nose and sniffled, walking over to Snorlax with Riolu. “Snorlax?”

  She sat up grumpily, her arms crossed. “Snorlax. Snorlax Snorlax.”

  “Ri! Ri!” Riolu climbed atop Snorlax’s stomach. “Ri! Ri!” She bounced happily on her.

  This seemed to soften Snorlax’s expression and she was soon smiling. “Snorlax...” she breathed out, laying down flat on her back now.

  “Snorlax, that was good, but I think you came out of the Rollout a little too early after being hit by Swift. You lost your concentration and gave up on the attack. We need to-” Gary’s mouth slanted, watching Snorlax now make a huge snow angel. “How cute,” Gary said, keeping a serious face. “Anyway, thanks. Come on, Riolu.” He returned Snorlax to her Poke Ball after Riolu made one final, hard bounce into the air.

  She somersaulted and landed in the snow, posing with one arm up and the other on the ground, her matching knee down while the opposite leg was outstretched.

  Gary stifled his snicker, making it come out more like a huff of air, and then turned to Rael.

  “This last win is mine!” Rael walked back and chose his last Pokemon, tossing a Great Ball. “Gliscor, come on!”

  “Gliscor!” The Pokemon was tall, swaying atop its own tail.

  “Wow! One of those!” Gary remembered when Aly’s team was swept at the Indigo League when a Gliscor Baton Passed the boosts from constant Swords Dances onto an Infernape. He stared at the opponent Pokemon for a moment, noting its silly smile but dangerous demeanor. I think it’s Poison and Flying. So I’m gonna try something a little different. He grabbed a Poke Ball and tossed it to the ground.

  The ball stuck in the snow, opening and sending out what was inside.

  The buzzing made Gary’s arms shake with disturbance, a frown on his face as he stared at his choice.

  “A Beedrill! Cool! Bug and Poison and Flying. Wait, no, that’s not right. What is it again?” Rael pulled out a Pokedex.

  That’s nice! Gary thought, his eyes widening on the maroon color.

  Beedrill. The Poison Bee Pokemon. The evolved stage of Kakuna. This is a Bug/Poison-type Pokemon. While they wi-

  “Okay, Bug and Poison!” Rael cut off his Pokedex, putting it away. “Got it! Gliscor, use Acrobatics now!”

  Gliscor bent its tail and then leaped! It soared into Beedrill, weakening it with constant strikes, moving at such a speed that it couldn’t be seen properly, leaving behind two afterimages.

  Gary grit his teeth. Waiting. Hoping. Beedrill, just hang in there! he thought urgently.

  Beedrill crashed into the snow hard.

  “Beedrill! Get up and let’s finish this off! This is our only chance!” Gary shouted.

  “This is over! Finish it!”

  “No it ain’t! ENDEAVOR!!” Gary pushed.

  Beedrill ascended and then flew for Gliscor, his body outlined in white!

  “Endeavor?” Rael was visibly confused.

  He doesn’t know what that is, Gary smirked. I owe Drock for this move!

  Beedrill tackled Gliscor.

  “Scoooooooor!” Gliscor groaned and dropped in the snow.

  “I’m sure your Pokemon are strong, and that’s what I’m counting on!” Gary smiled tauntingly.

  “Wait!” Rael pulled out his Pokedex again. “What is that move?”

  Endeavor. A Normal-type move. It forces the opponent’s HP to match the user’s.

  “The opponent’s-” Rael repeated thoughtfully, looking at the Pokedex, processing what was just said. Suddenly, his eyes widened. “-to the user’s?!”

  “Fury Attack!”

  Beedrill flew down with his foreleg stingers outlined in white and struck Gliscor numerous times, Gliscor crying out helplessly. He ascended away and then looked back at Gary.

  Gary smiled nervously, rubbing his neck as it started creeping uncomfortably. “We did it, Beedrill! That was great!”

  Beedrill raised his stingers high and started to fly over to his Trainer, but then he stopped.

  Gary’s heart stopped right after this - when he realized he’d taken a step away. Shit. Oh, Beedrill. I-

  “Man! Endeavor?? I never even heard of that move!” Rael returned Gliscor. “Thanks, Gliscor! You fought awesome! We just about had that!” He then bared his teeth at Gary. “I hate you, man! Why are you so good??”

  Gary closed his eyes and snorted hard before lowering his head respectfully. “Thank you, Rael.”

  “Nah! Screw that, man! You’re freaking amazing! You’re the coolest! I hate you so much! We’re equal on Badges right now, but if I won in New Snowpoint, then you’re definitely about to kill it there! You’re still leagues ahead of me! I just can’t win! But I’ll get you where it counts! At the League! Watch!”

  “Say, do you know where it will be held?” Gary asked.

  “Yeah! Didn’t you hear? The Senorita Sunset Conference in Sen City. I can’t believe it’s gonna be held there! I’m so excited! That’s not really a child-friendly city! This is a crazy opportunity! I can’t even imagine what I could see there!” Rael’s eyes were literally shining!

  The light faded as he suddenly glared at his rival. “Say, since you’re with a Gym Leader now, does that mean that girl at PokeLand Discounts is single??” Rael clasped his hands over his mouth, his eyes wide as possible. He then held his hands out. “Wait! I’m sorry! Was that wrong to say?? I just have a huge crush on her! I didn’t mean to say anything out of line!”

  “It’s fine.” Gary held out his own hands, smiling uncomfortably. “But, I don’t think she works there anymore, anyway. I’m sorry...”

  Rael’s face slowly hardened. “Sorry, huh? Have your fun and now she’s broken, somewhere crying and alone, huh? Quit her job, huh? Man, things just revolve around you, huh? I hate you! How about you save a little room in life for the rest of us?!” Looking furious, Rael turned and stomped away.

  Gary watched after the kid until he was out of sight, which was a pretty long while. He was intentionally refusing to move a muscle.

  “So, who is Miss PokeLand?” June’s voice came out, colder than the air.

  Gary didn’t look back at her, his heart beating more rapidly by the second. The rest of him was frozen, and not from the weather. While Beedrill’s buzzing was making his skin crawl, he realized it had begun to snow.

  *

  “Ggaaaaaaaaahh!!” Gary gripped his phone tight, ready to slam it down on the cave floor.

  “Still reading fan mail?” June asked casually.

  “They think I’m trying to clear my name by bringing in that Fred Frost guy! Look at this one! ‘You think we’re gonna forget that you’re out there working for Team Solace? You’ve got it coming, kid! You’re a traitor! People are dying thanks to you asshole! Kids just like you!’” He looked up at June desperately. “Everything I do is used against me!!”

  “Gary, you need to ignore that stuff! I told you already! Now back to my question about Sabrina! Why didn’t you use her? I thought she was your pride and joy!”

  Gary rolled his eyes and looked away. “I never even said all that.”

  “You gave Pidgeotto a nickname! Something with so much meaning! Are you gonna act like that meant nothing now?”

  Gary sucked his teeth and slapped his phone to his lap.

  Raichu, Riolu, and Kirlia were watching them argue silently.

  Electivire had his back to them, sitting facing the entrance of the latest cave, but even he looked back now.

  “What’s it matter? I don’t even nickname my Pokemon! Pidgeot has an Adamant Nature! Sabrina is Impish! She’s useless!”

  June gasped hard, getting to her feet. “What??”

  Gary glared back firmly. “I’m up to my sixth Badge. I need to start taking this all seriously. I need to start looking at my team more critically. When I chose Pidgeotto and Empoleon to fight that, uh... Dr. Creep guy, I had to make a hard decision. Time is nearly up now. I need to know who’s gonna stay at the lab, or stay with me. I can’t waste time anymore! Empoleon and Pidgeot proved their worth taking on Electric types. Sabrina wouldn’t have survived that fight. If we’re gonna take down this monster - kill her - we need to stop fucking around and get to business already!” He looked over to Kirlia and Riolu, who silently kept their eyes on him. “And these two ain’t far from the same thing as Sabrina. A Timid Riolu and a Hardy Kirlia. There’s no point in that!” He sniffled.

  “Gary you stop that!!” June screamed, taking a step towards him.

  “Or else what?!” Gary got to his feet, making hard fists. “What the fuck do you think you’re gonna do?”

  “What has gotten into you, Gary? This isn’t you!”

  “There’s no time for games anymore! It’s why I always fail! I couldn’t even beat Aly at the League! That’s not gonna happen again! And being weak and useless isn’t gonna help us kill that monster!” He shot Riolu, Kirlia, and Raichu angry eyes.

  They looked away from him and to their own hands instead, twiddling them nervously.

  “This isn’t you, Gary.” June approached him. “Who’s in there?” She reached out.

  In the blink of an eye, Gary smacked her wrist and then - slashed her throat out with his-

  Gary yelled out as he fell to the side of his face on the rock floor and his left arm was pulled back. The side of his face pressed down further as something dug into his left side.

  “Please, Gary. Fight it. Don’t. Please don’t. It’s me. It’s June.”

  Gary was coming out of a rage he wasn’t aware he was even in. June had him pinned down, keeping one knee in his side, holding his left arm behind him. “Aaaahh...” he groaned lightly.

  “Are you okay? I’ll let go if you’re okay. I’m so sorry, Gary,” June said sadly.

  “I get it. I’m fine. I’m sorry.” When June let him go, he fell onto his face and laid flat, breathing hard, and just stayed there. After a few minutes to calm down, he rolled onto his back. He didn’t speak for another couple of minutes. “It was her. She was in my head. She hates you, June. She wants you dead. For an instant, I was sure I had ripped your throat out with my own...”

  No one spoke.

  “Hands...?” June finally asked hesitantly.

  But Gary shook his head. “I thought I had claws. Like what she has. And I tried to kill you. Because she wants to kill you. She’s enraged when she sees you, through me. She might be learning how to reach through into my mind willingly now.”

  “But I thought she spared me on purpose. I thought she was trying to understand my... ability...” June’s voice lowered with discomfort. “Or did you stop her with your connection? I can’t make sense of it all. This is all too much to fit in my head.”

  “They’re just theories Looker had. We don’t know anything really. He still doesn’t know about - Melissa...” She’s not my sister, Gary kept to himself. “His theory was wrong...”

  “Gary...” June whispered.

  His eyes moved over to her. “Hey, is your throat okay? After that Frost guy cut you?”

  June rubbed at her neck gently. “Bandage is fine. I hardly even feel it.” She spoke quickly, in a way that made Gary think she didn’t want to talk about it. She got to her knees and started digging through her bag.

  Gary looked to Riolu, Kirlia, and Raichu.

  Kirlia’s horn was glowing light blue, his eyes closed.

  And Gary moved swiftly - lunging at the Pokemon with a roar! Claws tightening around him. I won’t hurt you.

  Gary choked out nastily and fell atop Kirlia. Quickly, he pushed himself up and looked down at the Pokemon.

  Catching his breath, his chest heaving, Kirlia scrambled backwards, his face full of disbelief.

  “Huh?” Gary felt something touch his right shoulder and turned to see Riolu with one paw on him. “Ri-”

  “Ri!” A light-blue blast sent Gary flying!

  “Uck!” Gary’s back slammed against the cave wall and he slumped forward, finally falling over to his side. His body tensed up, quivering with small jumps.

  “Gary!”

  Footsteps approached hurriedly.

  Gary pushed himself back up, holding his throbbing shoulder.

  June stopped short of Gary, her hands raised cautiously. “Gary? Are you there?”

  Riolu was behind June, beside Kirlia.

  “Gary? Why did you attack Kirlia?” June’s voice was trembling. “Can you hear me?”

  His body trembling, his heart full of shame, Gary closed his eyes and lowered his head. “I’m here... I wasn’t going to harm him.”

  “Gary. I don’t think you realize this. I believe you have no idea. But you jumped at him and were strangling him. You let him go and-” June swallowed.

  Silence filled the cave aside from the howling wind outside of it.

  Gary didn’t move, waiting. Not caring if June finished her sentence or not. He was trying to pull what he could remember from the past couple of minutes. Trying to make sense of it. But he couldn’t recall much. Except.

  “You started uttering something scary. It was like...” June’s voice trailed off and she stopped talking again.

  “She didn’t want to hurt Kirlia,” Gary said. “I heard her. I snapped out of it after that.”

  No one said anything for a moment.

  “Gary, you sounded inhuman. A horrible sound came out of your mouth. It sounded - like the monster, Claire.”

  “Don’t call it that,” Gary growled. “Don’t give it a name!”

  “I’m sorry. But you sounded... just like her.”

  “Then - she is figuring it out. She’s getting in.”

  “What do we do about this? How do we use Riolu and Kirlia to fight her?”

  How am I supposed to know?? Gary was getting agitated, but he kept his anger to himself. He didn’t want to scare June and the Pokemon any further.

  “There’s more, Gary. Please. You need to see this.”

  Gary took his time but eventually looked up, tears falling from his eyes.

  June was looking up to the ceiling of the cave, exposing her bandaged neck. “You swiped at me and grabbed me by my throat before I broke free.”

  Gary was shaking in horror at what he saw.

  “I’m lucky I had the gauze around it...” June said softly. “Hell of a scratch...”

  The gauze June had around her neck from when Fred Frost sliced her was shredded in three places.

  Gary held up his shaking hands and stared at them.

  June also looked down at them.

  Gary ran the thumb on each hand along his fingernails. They weren’t long, and certainly not sharp enough to cut through gauze. “I - I didn’t know I-” He shook his head and could only say, “I’m sorry...” He couldn’t get himself to look at June.

  *

  Melissa and Gary were huddled in each other's arms on the floor of her room, crying. Even though it had been a month since their dad’s passing, that was the first time they had cried over it, the reality of him never coming back home finally sinking in.

  “Blllaaaaaaaaagggghhh!” Gary threw up to the side.

  Kirlia and Riolu moved away in disgust, staring at the chunky light-green slime that hit the ground.

  His hands on the ground on either side of him, Gary breathed heavily, the disgusting taste in his mouth, his throat lurching as if trying to hurl some more. He spit a few times and then swallowed, cringing at the taste going back down his throat. “Okay. Let’s take a rest for the night. Uuugghh...” He held his churning stomach and collapsed on his side.

  “That’s enough for tonight, don’t cha think?” June suggested.

  Raichu nodded beside her. He looked nauseous, his lips shut and his cheeks puffed out, staring at the mess.

  I already said I’m done, Gary thought, frowning. But he kept this to himself and swallowed, feeling like he had to keep something from coming up.

  “Did you think of her again?” June asked quietly. With Gary not answering, June spoke up again, “I’m so sorry. This is all just beyond belief. Melissa. It’s just not fair! Gary, I’m so sorry!”

  Gary breathed out. “Nothing’s changed. That monster didn’t change anything.” Groaning and still holding his stomach, he managed to sit up and he turned to Riolu and Kirlia.

  The two stared back at him with wide eyes.

  “And it’s thanks to you two that I know this now. While we’ve been working on how to help me block out the monster from my mind, or fight back, whatever this is, I’ve come to see things clearer than before. Melissa is still my sister. There’s nothing in the world that monster can do to ruin that. I won’t let her.”

  Kirlia’s horn glowed, and a small smile spread on his face.

  Riolu wore a matching smile and nodded.

  Gary couldn’t smile back, guilt strangling his heart. “I don’t care what caused it. I’m so sorry, Kirlia. That monster will pay for that. It will never happen again.”

  “I still don’t get why you attacked Kirlia to begin with.”

  “Because I was frustrated with them,” Gary answered easily. “I called them names and useless and was angry. It’s not her that’s mad at them. It’s me. It’s just all me. My impatience becomes rage when under her influence, but it starts with me. But I believe she wants to attack you. She likely wants you dead.”

  “How did you figure all that out?”

  “It’s what I came up with after thinking about this journey so far. Times when I’ve lost my cool with my Pokemon. Like Tyranitar. He’s... weak, too. Especially. I’ve been really harsh with him.”

  “Gary, no Pokemon is weak.”

  “Yeah,” Gary nodded. “‘That’s only the selfish perception of people.’ Like Karen says.”

  “One of my favorite quotes. You know how it ends, Gary. Be strong. Prove yourself, to yourself. To your Pokemon.”

  “I think you mean be skilled, but yeah. I have to do both. I have to fight back and I have to fix this, and destroy her. There’s no excuse for what I did. None at all. There will be payback for this. For everything!” His hands were shaky fists, his eyes glaring at the ground.

  The cave was silent with loud tension for some time, broken up only by the occasional discomforted breath and sniffling.

  A more deliberate disruption came when Gary slowly got to his feet. “Speaking of which, June, there’s something else I’ve been meaning to get at with you. It was a while of us not traveling together and you and I both know there’s a lot to talk about. Now’s the time.”

  Electivire made a motion, looking at the two humans.

  June stared at Electivire and then, returning to Gary, she got to her feet. “Yes,” she agreed, nodding hard. A small smile came across her lips and she let out a light chuckle. “What the hell has been going on here since I’ve been gone?”

  Gary’s face was hard as stone, strict eyes on June as he sniffled again. “It’s not funny, June!” he shouted.

  June’s smile was wiped clean off her face, confusion now taking up the space. “Huh?”

  “I know what you did to Electivire!” Angry tears started filling his eyes.

  June was silent, gaping at Gary in disbelief.

  Raichu, Kirlia, and Riolu quietly observed, unease on their faces.

  Electivire glared harshly, his fights tight and ready.

  This is it, Gary pushed himself. No going back. He opened his mouth to let it all out.

  Everything he knew.

  Knowing that when this was all over, this could be the end of their friendship.