Swanna Song, Sung Throughout Sinnoh

“I’ve got two Desert Eagles, one chambered in .44 Magnum, the other chambered in .50 A an’ E,” a man in sunglasses said from Gary’s phone on VU-Tube. The guy stood outside where a forest sat in the background, his separate area covered in gravel and targets in front of a big wall. A wooden table in front of him held two guns and an accompanying part for them. “We’re gonna do a little bit of a... a visual comparison of the two cartridges, a two hundred and thirty grain in the .44 and a three hundred in the...” He looked down, thinking, and took a breath. “In the .50 A an’ E and we’re gonna see how much recoil splits the difference between two pistols of, very similar characteristics.”

Gary looked around the Pokemon Center lobby swiftly, keeping his head down.

There were people walking throughout, but no one seemed to be paying him any attention as he struggled to hear the guy on the phone. Struggling to hear because he put the volume so low because he didn’t own any headphones.

“I will say however that the... .44 does have Magnum Researches new, muzzle brake compensator, uh at the end of the barrel. Uh, I do not recommend trying this at home! We have special permission here from the Range Master, to fire one shot, from, both pistols, simultaneously, just for the visual comparison and your enjoyment.”

Gary watched as the man loaded up the guns and eventually fired them. He lowered his head even more and his eyes looked around the room after the loud noise.

Now, a couple of people had turned to him, but not for long, returning to their business.

I think I get the gist of it, Gary told himself as he turned off the phone and slipped it into his pocket. But when do I get the privacy to practice? I don’t even know how many bullets are in it. I won’t get to practice if there’s only one bullet. If there’s only two, I’ll only get one chance to practice. And I can’t buy more. Even if I did have the money. He stared at his bag, knowing the weapon was inside. But assuming it hasn’t been used since, it probably has plenty of bullets.

From the door of the hovering helicopter, Isaac reached into his pants, right at his belt, and pulled out the big, golden gun! He pointed it at the Dragonite that carried Prof. Oak on its back and the shot was tremendous!

Gary jumped despite being so far away on the ground. He hated the loud, sudden poppings of things like guns, and balloons.

Another shot fired!

Gary jumped as if a gun had actually been shot and blinked back to reality, having trouble breathing. At least two bullets... Gary remembered from the Indigo League. And these things carry sixteen I think the video said? And it works just like the TV shows say. It’s almost too easy. Which makes this so dangerous. And scary. Gary’s heart gave a painful jump at a sudden BANG!

No.

Gary saw that a young boy had hung up the phone and left the booth. He got up and stretched his back. Hoisting his bag on his shoulders, he moved to the phone booth and quickly made his call.

“I’m sorry, this line is currently busy. Please hold or try again later,” a mechanical female voice instructed.

The screen then went black and the image of a Wobbuffet appeared and repeated in an annoying voice, “Wooobb… Wooobb… Wooobb… Wooobb…”

“If Kiwi can’t even pick up, they must be really busy,” Gary considered, and then hung up. He left the booth and stopped in the middle of the building. I guess it’s time, he told himself, and he pulled out his Pokedex and went to the map. “Northwest of Oreburgh City. Right. But that’s... further along... Soooo... We have to get to Jubilife City after all, and we’ll just head north to Route 204, where the Ravaged Path is, and not far from that, Alamos Town is where Prof. Oak’s notes lead. But that Gym Byron told me about is also cutting into my journey. But it can just wait. I’ll get there, but first, I need to get to those mountains. I’ll face his son on my way back to Canalave City. Yes.” He smiled, putting away the Pokedex, and then frowned. “Now to handle business, because I’m not going after any Badge until I sort this out.”

*

Gary hurled his only Great Ball left at the weary Pokemon he met crawling out of the water after the Trainer had crossed the bridge. Come on, just stay in! he begged, feeling tears take over his eyes. He wiped them away and watched as the ball shook repeatedly and then...

PING!

PONG!

Gary stared at the Great Ball as it vanished. He shook his head, trying to free his mind from a terrifying memory. But the harder he tried, the easier it was to remember when June had, somehow, been captured in some kind of a Poke Ball-like device and was taken away by the monster. He blinked sadly, shaking his head. Between the nightmares, and the memories when I’m awake, I don’t know how much longer I can survive on this quest. While he wasn’t entirely serious about this thought, it was honest enough.

The blimp ride that eventually got him back to Route 218 was meant to end with him calling out Electivire to have a talk with him. But he just never got the energy or patience to deal with such a hard-headed Pokemon. I should still keep Raichu out as a precaution. Or just send Electivire to- He ended up freezing, thinking about Prof. Oak, and tears ran out of his eyes. Sketchit... Kiwi... Right... Gary kept his hands in the pockets of his warm coat and kept it moving, crossing the bridge and walking through the grass.

Riolu cried out and ran after him.

Walking through the trees, Gary stopped and released June’s bag from his shoulder with a tired sigh. One thing Electivire does good is carry this thing around, Gary admitted. It’s just more annoying work more than it is actually heavy. But I can’t have that thing out of the ball when he behaves how he does. More to the point, how do I stop him from ruining my Gym matches?? He sat down carefully and grabbed two Poke Balls. “Thanks for battling earlier,” he told Riolu. “Sorry. My head is just full of a lot right now. Come back.” He returned her.

Riolu was gone quickly.

Gary then found himself staring at Electivire’s Poke Ball. But what do I say to the guy? Yeah I can keep Raichu out, but how is that solving the problem if he just wants to zap me? But also, he’s not even my Pokemon! I’m not meant to be having a relationship with him. It’s not my responsibility! So what? You give up? We move on? Wait for him to come out and get into another fight? I can’t get my next Badge until I sort him out! But if I tell him I’ll send him to Prof- Gary gave out his breath with irritation. If I tell him I’ll send him to Prof. Sketchit... What if he catches an attitude? What if he attacks the professor and Kiwi? No, he would. It’d be irresponsible of me to do that to them. They clearly have enough to deal with. So it’s all on me...

Gary gripped the Poke Ball and stood. He extended his arm and the Pokemon inside was set free.

“Electivire,” Electivire grumbled, first staring at Gary, and then looking around, finally focusing again on Gary.

“Electivire, man. We’ve had this talk a hundred times already, but you don’t get it, and I’m not doing this again, no matter what.” A bit of a harsh start, Gary? Gary regretted, but he was also fed up. “I don’t know what else I can do for you, and I don’t know if your attitude is a result of June being missing or something else, but your behavior needs to chill. Maybe we can work out something where you battle with me, but this has to be on my terms! This is my journey! I’m sorry things worked out the way they have!” His eyes now started to water. “I’m doing my best here for you and the other Pokemon. I haven’t done anything to solve the mystery of the monster, or catch her, or even seen her. And June’s had issues with you before that, anyway. If there’s anything I can do, maybe something that, when we do find her, you two can put aside your differences and love each other again, please let me know what it is!” Gary stared helplessly at Electivire. He shrugged. “I’m at the end of my ropes here, man! I’ve got nothing else! Don’t you want help?!”

Electivire kept cold eyes on him and then gave him his back. He crossed his arms over his chest. “Electivirrrre,” he let out.

Gary now frowned again. “Look, you. I don’t care about your stupid problems, to be honest. Just stop causing me them! June and I have done nothing to hurt you or offend you. We’ve tried to do nothing but reach out to you! Especially June, and now me! This hasn’t been fair to either of us. As a Pokemon Trainer, I’m here for any and all Pokemon to befriend and raise and take care of in general, but if you don’t want my help, it’s just not my problem! Especially-!” He inhaled deeply. “Especially when you’re only trying to keep me, us, away from you! Many Trainers would have just released you by now at this rate! It’s not worth it for everyone! If you’re happier free, you can be released! But that’s not my decision, and I’m not, I can’t, give up on you. That’s June’s decision! But damn it, Electivire. Damn it! You will not ruin what I am going for!”

There was a momentary silence in the woods.

“I’m the one competing in the League, not you! These are my Badges!” He pulled out his Badge case and plucked out his latest Badge from Jupiter. His eyes focused on the Phobia Badge still in the case, but he shook his head and put away the case. He then flung the Infiltration Badge at Electivire!

The Badge went past Electivire’s right shoulder and disappeared.

“I’ve wasted so much time to only earn one Badge while in Sinnoh all this time.” Earn, huh? Gary questioned, thinking on his first Badge from Cas. Ignoring this, he continued, “You will not interfere anymore.”

No one moved or said a thing.

Gary’s shoulders slumped. Fine, he thought in defeat. What a waste of time. Electivire wins. He looked down, thinking. But he can’t win my next Badge. My second Badge will be by my own Pokemon. Even if I have to get rid of this thing. He looked up into the sky. I can’t do that, can I...? Which means... I have to drop my journey? Why does Electivire need to battle so badly? Why does he want to fight my Gyms? Why can’t he just take it easy? Am I not training him enough? Is he just overloaded on energy? Should I battle with him more? But, it’s almost like nothing’s- Gary’s eyes widened. ...A challenge... He hated that he had even thought that, but this fired him up as well. If I want to become a Pokemon Master, then I have to beat Electivire. And I will. Before my next Badge, Electivire has to be defeated! A challenge...

Another thought was creeping into his mind.

A memory...

“A challenge...” June had said in Viridian City after she, Gary, Robin and Aly had survived the encounter with the monster and Team Solace. Her voice was low and shaky, but loud enough for her friends to hear. “A challenge is coming. Soon.”

“June,” Robin and Aly said at the same time, and Robin went silent. “What’s coming? Who?”

“It may not be a living thing. But it’s something the creature wants to really bad,” June whispered. “It could be what she came from to begin with. The answer to what she even is. Maybe, something greater than her. Or... More of her.”

Aly gasped. “There can’t be!”

Gary inhaled hard, sniffling right after, his nose running. The cold of Sinnoh was getting to him right now and he shivered. A challenge... he remembered. What did June mean? Even she had no idea of what it meant that she heard. Oh, June... Where in the world are you right now? He gazed to the sky mournfully. I can’t do this without you.

*

Gary’s mother’s angry face was clear. She reached out for him, tears in her eyes.

June was standing in the middle of an unfamiliar house, her head tilted back, moaning from pain. Slowly, she transformed into Gary’s sister, Melissa.

Now, Melissa’s head, still leaning back, was swaying as she groaned and made lurching noises.

Gasping, Gary looked behind him to see something so disturbing.

Deformed babies were crawling along the ground for him, whining and crying in echoed, inhuman squeals. As they got closer, Gary could see the displaced jaws, their eyes hanging out of the sockets, fingers and toes missing, legs and arms twisted in horrible, broken positions.

Screaming, he kicked one of the babies. His foot went into the stomach of it, cracking it open as if the human were made of porcelain or glass, and roaches, spiders, and all kinds of bugs escaped, moving along the floor to freedom.

As the bugs got away, slipping into the cracks in the floor, walls, and ceiling, the old house started to creak, groan, cry out from the pressure of the bugs filling themselves into the crevices, and with a loud, horrible, groaning wail, the building came down upon them all.

Gary sat up, gasping hard. He swallowed, holding his chest. He thought back on his dream, but all he could remember was June turning into his late sister, his angry mother, and something about a lot of bugs. A couple of minutes later, the only thing of the dream he could recall was June turning into Melissa.

He stared into the woods around him. He was so close to Jubilife City. He could have walked in in about ten minutes if he wanted to. But he didn’t want to.

So close to civilization, he had given up and decided to rest. A little break. Getting into Jubilife City meant returning to his goal of becoming a Pokemon Master. It was a feeling he wasn’t ready to take on that night, instead taking a little half-day vacation, promising to get back to it in the morning.

Now, he wished he had gone to the Pokemon Center to sleep. He longed so badly for just a little bit of companionship. Just being able to find one human being in close proximity to him meant everything to him right now.

*

“Alright Electivire, Raichu, let’s head out of here,” Gary told his Pokemon from inside of the Pokemon Center that morning.

Electivire was holding June’s bag, sparking but not attacking, his arms crossed, growling at Raichu.

Raichu was looking away nervously, his ears down.

“There’s also a Gym nearby that I wanna stop by afterwards, after our trip.”

Electivire’s eyes widened with interest and he smirked sneakily, turning to Gary.

“And you will not be interfering, either!” Gary warned.

Electivire was full-on smiling now, snickering evilly.

Raichu wore a nervous, sheepish smile, keeping his stare away from the taller Pokemon.

Gary mocked Electivire’s laugh with a nasty, disgusted look. “Cut it out! This isn’t funny and it’s not a joke! We’re gonna go traveling for a bit and we’ll return to get a new Badge, and you’ll be out of my way about it or we’re gonna have us a serious issue that I will solve!”

Electivire’s arms uncrossed and he raised his fists, leaning towards Gary threateningly.

Gary made his own fists and struggled to keep his shaking arms firm.

“YO! Gary! What’s good?”

Gary turned and pulled back from June’s Pokemon to gasp at the arrival of someone he knew.

Scientist Gary!

“Gary!” Gary managed to smile at him.

“Good morning, dude!” Scientist Gary grinned. He reached out a hand.

Gary reached out as well, and he was stunned to see that the scientist was using the same handshake he recognized from Ish! He stared at their hands with wide eyes. Whoa! When’d he start shaking like that? Maybe he’s more comfortable with me? Could he know Ish?

The handshake was sloppy, as usual for Gary, and the two fell apart, keeping smiles.

“Everything okay, here?” Scientist Gary asked nervously, staring back and forth between Electivire and Gary, shooting Raichu a glance as well.

“Yeah, we’re cool,” Gary nodded reassuringly, forcing himself to keep a small smile. “Just getting ready for the next Badge we have over in Oreburgh City.”

“Oh, yeah. That’s cool. That’s where you’re headed now?” The scientist was talking a little strangely.

Gary nodded. “That’s right...” he answered slowly, catching the scientist’s tone.

“You’re not headed to catch Jirachi?”

Gary jumped a little, a loud sound going off in his ears. He then squinted at the short man. “You went through the book.”

“I’m sorry. I did. It was notes by the legend himself. How could I not?”

“Who are you? How do you know Kiwi?” Gary demanded.

“Alright, here me out,” the little man held up his hands defensively. “I never got to meet Prof. Oak before his passing, but he was someone who was highly interested in my work with the PGS system. Would you believe me if I said he was almost a one-time investor?”

Gary gasped. “There’s no way he’d support something like that!” he said angrily.

“It shows just how great Prof. Oak truly was, that he was able to see my vision. He knew a lot more about it than you do. A lot more than a lot of people who don’t even understand it properly, but think they do. My work isn’t bad. Given enough time, I believe, just maybe, he would have openly supported my work and pushed it to like, a thousand levels closer to acceptance than I could ever get it. Not at the speed he could do it at, anyway. He had questions, but he also had answers to my own questions, and that’s why he supported me. I just want everyone to understand. But I don’t want to start spreading the fact Prof. Oak supported me. It’d be in bad taste. He just died. No one would believe me anyway. I finally had a way to the top, and it was taken. I could have helped so many.”

Gary just leered at him. He was just using Prof. Oak, he thought. But, how could something like this trick the great Prof. Oak? There’s no way! Then, does that mean his work is legit?

“I know Kiwi after calling the Lab after his passing. I just couldn’t believe it was true. I tried to speak with Prof. Sketchit, but he and I never quite saw eye to eye the same way me and Prof. Oak did. So I ended up talking with Kiwi.”

So that’s how... Gary tried to say out loud, but it ended up staying in his head.

“That’s how I got to know her, explaining our history. Look, I went through the book, and I read about the Legendaries and Mythicals he met. He was trying to track down a few of them. Shaymin, Celebi, and Jirachi.”

“Jirachi...” Gary whispered, keeping hard eyes on the scientist.

“He had wishes, Gary. I don’t know what they were. He didn’t write them down, but he must have wanted the three wishes from Jirachi for something. And I know it was for the best of the world to benefit from.”

“You went after Jirachi!” Gary accused angrily.

Scientist Gary looked around the building.

Gary suddenly noticed how quiet the building had gotten and glanced about, too.

Everyone was staring at them. Only a couple of people looked away, everyone else openly admitting their interest in the conversation.

“Maybe we should take this outside,” Scientist Gary suggested.

Gary nodded. “I agree.”

Scientist Gary led the way, Gary, Raichu, and eventually Electivire following. No one stopped walking, even when they were out of Jubilife City, until they were all on an open plain, distant woods at either side.

“Alright, start talking!” Gary ordered.

“Okay, look. I went after Jirachi, okay? We all have dreams, don’t we? Wishes?” Scientist Gary admitted. “I have a lot on my mind these days, okay? I wanted to know if I could find some kind of peace if I had the chance to-” His head lowered and he shook it. “I just wanted to fix some stuff in my life, okay? It wasn’t right, but I got desperate.” He looked at Gary and shrugged. “Me and my girl broke up. I’ve been a mess, dude. I don’t know what to do, or what I would have wished for had I found Jirachi, but I just wanted to do... something... Not like, force her to be with me or anything, but, just know why... What went wrong, you know? Gaaah!” He closed his eyes and lowered his head, shaking it. “It’s probably best I didn’t find it.” He looked to Gary again. “But this is why I don’t believe in Mythical Pokemon, anyway. Waste of my time. That’s why they’re called myths. They aren’t real.”

Gary breathed out of his nose and looked down, trying hard to keep silent. What an idiot, he kept to himself. How can he be this stupid? They’re not just throwing any old legends and stories in the Pokedex! There’s a process to determine things!

“Anyway, I’ve been all kinds of broken up and wasn’t thinking straight, so, I dunno, I just went out there and I found nothing, obviously. I probably wouldn’t have used all three wishes, though. I just wanted one thing. But there was nothing there. Are you still going?”

I’m pretty sure Jirachi wasn’t set to appear yet, Gary tried to recall. That’s why you didn’t meet it. “Yes. I’m going to try my luck and capture Jirachi. And get my wishes. All three.”

“Whoa. All three? It won’t appear for a thousand years after that!”

“Okay? I’ve got things to fix in my life, today, okay?” Gary snapped. “A lot of stuff, and only three wishes!”

Scientist Gary just looked down and nodded.

“I’ll find it, and capture it, and I’ll show you just how real the Mythicals are.”

“You believe in them??”

“Of course I do! I’ve told you this!” Gary was getting irritated now, but he managed to hide it, giving a confused look instead.

Scientist Gary didn’t say anything, looking at the grass below.

“You’ll see when I’m done out there. I’ll have my first ever Legendary Mythical Pokemon.”

“Yeah aight...” Scientist Gary mumbled, raising his eyebrows.

Gary struggled to smile at his reaction, highly put off by Scientist Gary’s dismissal. “You’ll see.”

Looking back up, Scientist Gary said, “Yeah well, let me know. Just call-” He stopped. “Hey, your phone is still broken?”

“Of course! I don’t make enough to afford luxuries like fixing electronics. I didn’t buy the phone in the first place, myself.”

“Oh... Well, look, if you give me it, I can try to fix it for you.”

“Really...? But, how can I repay you?”

Narrowing his eyebrows, the scientist shrugged. “I mean, not for nothin’, but you could give me back my Slowpoke that you took from me.”

Gary’s mouth dropped open. “I - I mean...” He froze up for a long moment before finding more words. “I don’t need you to-”

The scientist burst out laughing, holding out his hand. “I’m just joking, okay? I’m over that. I still need a Slowpoke, but just never mind, okay?”

“Uuhh...” Gary was stuck, not sure what to say. Should I argue against that? Is he only saying that to get me to feel bad and give him back the Slowpoke?

Scientist Gary waved at Gary reassuringly. “Really, dude. Don’t worry about that, man. I’m doing okay financially. I can help a friend for free.”

Gary smiled. A friend, he repeated. Despite our differences, we- Gary got his bag off of his back and went through it carefully, slowly. He saw the gun before he saw the phone, and he tried not to move it around too much as he went for the phone underneath it. The gun was on safety, but even he knew there still was nothing safe about carrying around the weapon. He grasped the phone and pulled it out warily, zipping up the bag as soon as he was able to before giving the scientist the phone.

The scientist nodded, turning the phone around. “The Flipbook Mini. Alright. What’s wrong with it?”

“It works just fine. I’ve got a charger for it and all that, but it was given to me, but the owner no longer uses it, basically. S-so, I still have it. It just needs a chip or something to pay the bill, I think? That’s all it is. I’m not saying I can afford to keep it operating but while it’s still connected, I can at least try hooking it up to my Pokedex and earn enough from battling to keep it going. I hope.” He laughed a little, but his smile vanished swiftly remembering he’d lost money recently by losing to Byron. Crap. What exactly can Gary do for me, then? It looks like I’m asking him to foot the bill or something! Gary opened his mouth to make himself more clear, feeling completely stupid and not wanting Scientist Gary to misunderstand anything.

“I mean... that’s an easy fix, honestly,” Scientist Gary spoke up quickly. “For me, at least. I dunno about how you’ll feel about it, though.”

“What do you mean?” Gary asked, confused by what the man was saying.

“Well, I dunno, man. I know how much of a stickler you are for the rules, buuuut, if you don’t mind actually bending them, I can make this thing work for free with a hack. But, I don’t wanna make you do something you don’t really believe in like that.” He shrugged.

“Wait, that’d be so cool! And helpful! Like, real service and all that?”

“Service as long as you’re in a good area. Data for the internet. And, it’ll take longer for the police to trace your call. But, hey, I know you’re a good guy and one for the rules and not cheating, you know, like with the Pokemon, so, never mind, I guess.” Scientist Gary shrugged, holding the phone out to Gary.

“Hey, come on, man! You know that’s not even the same thing. Pleeeeeeeease?” Deep down, Gary didn’t really care if the guy did it or not. He really didn’t even want the phone anymore. But if the guy would do it, it would only benefit Gary.

“Aaaaaaaah, now you wanna join the dark side!” Scientist Gary teased with a wide smile. “Noooow you wanna join me.” He held out his other hand. “I am your fatha...” He then laughed.

Gary managed to laugh, rolling his eyes at the Starly Wars reference.

“Nah, but seriously, let’s head back to Jubilife and work on this, then I can set you up with a Log-A-Graph account and send you all the memes I see. I be seeing the stupidest shit ever, man.” Scientist Gary looked so excited, leading the way back.

When the scientist had turned from him, Gary’s forced smile went away with a silent release of air and he sneered as he and the two Pokemon followed the man, disgusted for three reasons. One, he didn’t want a stupid Log-A-Graph account and see his stupid stuff he wanted to send Gary so badly. Two, he didn’t want to keep in contact with this guy at all! And finally, he was tired of returning to Jubilife City!

Soon, they were in front of the Pokemon Center and they walked inside. Scientist Gary stopped and turned to Gary. “I’ll grab a room and work on the phone and I’ll catch you back here. That okay? I won’t take long.”

“Alright,” Gary shrugged.

“Cool. I’ll be right back.” Scientist Gary walked over to Nurse Joy and before long, she was leading him into the back of the building. Before going through the doors, Scientist Gary looked back at Gary and nodded with a sneaky smile and an added wink. “Yeeeeaaah,” he mouthed and then went after the nurse, the doors closing behind him.

Confused, Gary started walking to a bench at the other end of the lobby.

Raichu followed, but Electivire merely grunted and then stuck out his leg.

“Rai!” Raichu tripped over Electivire’s foot and fell to his face. “Raichu...” Raichu managed to smile, his eyes closed but his hairless eyebrows furrowed, and he continued over to Gary.

But that brings back the question, why is the phone still even operational to begin with? he wondered. The Trick Master is dead. Him and Prof. Cozmo. No one has been taking care of that phone. No one’s paid the bill. Gary took a seat, continuing his thoughts: Shouldn’t the account for it be closed? I guess once Scientist Gary is done with it, none of that will matter anyway.

“The titan Regigigas was spotted and fled, leaving not only a wide trail through the woods to follow, but also a huge hole that some say leads to the Sinnoh Underground.” From the TV hanging high, Gary saw a newswoman in a blue dress for only an instant before the screen showed a new video with a new woman with a microphone. “We’re live on the scene where it is being said the Legendary Pokemon Regigigas, a Normal type Pokemon, vanished in thin air! Lisa?” the previous woman could be heard.

Standing in a black dress, Lisa stared at the camera.

Around her were just trees, but several of them were toppled! The ground itself looked disturbed as well, roughly trampled on and ripped up. Something powerful had made its way through and left almost nothing in peace. There was a large hole in the ground beside the woman. But behind her, the destruction seemed to come to an abrupt end, the trees and grass in place.

“The citizens of Hearthome City bravely went after the enormous Regigigas that seemed to appear from out of nowhere and ran through the city, going directly for the Foreign Building recklessly. Risking themselves to protect the age-old, religious construction, the Regigigas then fled here, Amity Square, where it disappeared, presumably into this huge hole. No one was injured, and aside from my surroundings, everything remained intact. Despite this, the citizens swear the Legendary Pokemon appeared, and was headed for the building to destroy it. What made the powerful titan stop and flee from humans, however, remains unanswered. If it’s proven that this Pokemon is indeed hiding in the Sinnoh Underground, it’s said to be the last straw, and its demolition, certain. Back to you, Carina.”

The video of Lisa now only took up half of the screen, Carina’s screen taking the other half. “Thank you, Lisa. I must ask before you leave, is this confirmed to tie in with the missing Regigigas, Regirock, Registeel, and Regice that used to be in the care of the late Pyramid King Brandon?”

“It’s uncertain at this time, Carina. Only Regigigas was spotted here, but at various other times, the other Regis have been seen throughout Sinnoh. It still remains a mystery as to where they are headed, and who took his Legendary golems, let alone the cause of death for Pyramid King Brandon and his wife, Temple Maiden Maria.”

“Thank you for the information, Lisa. In oth-”

“You’re very welcome, Carina,” Lisa said.

Carina smiled and laughed quickly before trying her sentence again, the screen with Lisa going away as Carina’s took over. “In other news, Prof. Cynthia remains missing after not attending a big meeting a few days ago. This gathering included the likes of many of the world’s most well known professors and scientists to discuss many things, including the current global crisis with limited items and supplies for Pokemon care due to the terrifying attack in Saffron City’s Silph Co. a year ago, and the resulting panic and theft by Pokemon Trainers.”

“Prof. Cynthia?!” Gary burst out, standing up.

“Sources say she’s been unreachable by phone or email, and may just be wrapped up in work. While known for, at times, being a bit absentminded, this still has left many baffled. Prof. Elm released a statement earlier today joking about his own tendencies to get lost in his work, and believing she likely just found a really good ruin.”

A picture of a white guy with glasses, short blonde hair, and a long, messy black beard around his face, stared out with his head cocked to the side, looking like he didn’t have any fucks left to give.

“American rapper... Um, El... em... enee... homey? I think I actually got that right, is in the news this week, sparking controversy this week with his stance siding with Team Solace again,” the lady was saying. “The rapper is preparing to drop his latest album, entitled Truth Hurts, with an extra word at the end that I won’t be adding here, soon. His first single, Pokemon To Be Murdered By, drops at a time when heated debate burns long and fierce between folks who are against Team Solace, as well as those who support them.”

The screen was changed, showing one old black man speaking into a microphone held by someone unseen. “I just think, when it comes to Team Solace, Pokemon need to be wiped out to keep them out of the hands of Team Solace! Team Solace themselves is the threat, more than the Pokemon themselves, but they show that with people like Team Solace around, Pokemon are no good for this world!”

The video now went to a woman with dark hair and only barely lighter skin. “It’s disgusting that that white boy thinks he can just use his platform to speak so much evil into the world. It’s disgusting he even has a platform. Who gave him this? You know who. White people! Only priveledged white people being protected by the excuse of freedom of speech to promote murder and support terrorism, but when it’s us saying the truth about the government keeping us down, we’re criminals and thugs and threatening. He’s hijacked an already violent genre of music, Rap, and is making it unbelievably worse! He should be arrested! He should be being held accountable!”

The camera then changed to a pale kid in a nice suit coat. “You know, I agree with Team Solace, because, they just show us that Pokemon can do this on their own! It’s not Team Solace doing this, it’s the Pokemon. They literally cause all of these deaths and stuff by themselves. So what if Team Solace is triggering a few extras? This has been an issue for how many years, decades, centuries? Now we wanna talk about it because why? Humans are causing it? We support animals far too much and make them out to be innocent and victims, but now we see them for what they can do so, I get where Team Solace is coming from. Should they be stopped? Maybe, sure, but what about the Pokemon? We just leave this issue Team Solace was brave enough to raise to our eyes and let it go back to normal?”

Carina returned along with the bearded photo of Elemenemopee. “We’re heading to our commercial break but stay tuned when we get back as we cover an underground Pokemon battle ring discovered in Ryme City, the debate on the use of a new Pokemon medicine to enhance stats gathers more acceptance than ever before, and info for the list for favorite Pokemon of the year and how to vote! Details after this.”

The screen now changed to a commercial featuring older men looking thoughtful or otherwise depressed.

Pokemon medicine? To increase stats? Wait... Scientist Gary? Gary’s eyes widened and he looked around. He’s not here... But this is about him, isn’t it?

“Yo, Gary! I’m back! We good!”

Gary turned to see the little scientist jogging through the double doors, heading back for him. He smiled and approached him. “Yo!”

They stopped in front of each other.

“I told you I got you, and look!” Smiling, the scientist held out the phone to Gary. “I downloaded the app. Just make an account and you’re good!”

Gary kept his smile up, although he nearly dropped it, and he took the phone. “Awesome...” he responded, staring at the opened Log-A-Graph app that was asking for a login.

“Yeah, make that shit!” Scientist Gary insisted. “Then I can send you all the dumb shit I find!”

“Right. Hey! The news!” He turned to the TV. “Yo, they were mentioning the Pokemon medicine stuff you were doing, I think.”

“Wait, what do you mean?”

“They said there’s people supporting some kind of new Pokemon medicine that boosts stats!”

“Really??”

Gary nodded. “Let’s see what they have to say on it. They said they’d discuss it after their commercials.”

The current commercial had an Arcanine running through a backyard with a happy man. In the end, it showed a bag from the brand Pokegree, which made cat and dog food for Pokemon.

Carina returned onscreen with a smile, some basic music like you would expect on a news station playing for the return. “We are back with the news, thank you for being with us. The newest drug on the market, said to be an enhanced version of the over-the-counter vitamins for Pokemon stats, is reaching a new level of representation after the meeting between Pokemon scientists and professors continued today, as mentioned earlier, noticeably without Prof. Cynthia.”

“Without Prof. Cynthia?”

“She’s apparently been busy and caught up in her work,” Gary answered quickly as the report continued.

Now, the screen showed several professors and other scientists, one man in front of them all speaking with a young news reporter in a brown suit.

The man speaking wore an open white lab coat with no shirt under it, showing his tanned, perfect abs and incredible pecs. The words Pokemon Prof. Kukui: Alola Region were shown. “While previously unwilling to accept this new method as nothing more than something similar to steroids, today, we are happy to announce, while our views aren’t entirely shifted, we are willing to look deeper into this matter as a possible new step into legitimate, Pokemon advancement. This does not make it legal to use at this time, but we all agree that we might learn something out of this and are trying to come to a conclusive decision. I will say that this drug is starting to receive a slightly more positive reply from us experts than before.”

Scientist Gary screamed for joy, jumping and celebrating.

There was a lot of talk in the Pokemon Center now.

Scientist Gary beamed at Gary. “You see?? Didn’t I tell you?!! I told you this was legit! I told you we would make it and be legit one day! We’re on the road now, huh?? YEAH BOYYYYYYY!!”

Gary ended up laughing at the scientist's excitement and shook his head, turning to the TV.

Carina was discussing something else now. “Ryme City was under investigation for some time now for an underground Pokemon battling ring, and this has finally been uncovered. Ryme City is one of the few places in the entire world where Pokemon battling, using Poke Balls, and just being a Pokemon Trainer in general, are prohibited.”

Gary was trying to focus on this news, knowing few places had such rules.

However, Scientist Gary was still shouting out, ecstatic about his victory for his medicine.

Talks in the lobby got even louder.

Gary gave up trying to hear the news and just smiled at the scientist. So I guess you were right, huh? Your medicine might just not be that bad, after all. You were right.

You.

And Prof. Oak.