Swanna Song, Sung Throughout Sinnoh

Something walked across the grass and stopped, eyeing Gary, the two Pokemon he had with him, and Ish.

Gary kind of moaned in his head, staring at the thing.

“Nice,” Ish nodded at it. “You tryna catch it, or you gonna battle for Experience?”

Gary was certain he would meet the ground, but he remained standing somehow, feeling like he was swaying in place.

Before them stood a big, beautiful sunflower. A Sunflora! “Flor...”

“Raichu!” Raichu smiled and waved. He removed his sunglasses politely.

Gary kept quiet.

“ELECTIVIRE!!” Electivire hit Sunflora with Thunderbolt.

After screaming out, Sunflora collapsed.

Gary stared at it for a bit before taking a step forward.

At the sound of crunching grass, Sunflora stirred and then frantically scurried away.

“Vire?” Electivire stared at Gary.

“Raichu?” Raichu also stared at Gary, surprise in his eyes.

“So it’s Experience Points you want? You raising Electivire?”

“NO!” Gary burst out, his eyes wide with fright on Ish. He looked at Electivire.

The Electric brute was leering back at him.

Groaning out loud, Gary shuffled along, his head spinning from tiredness. When am I allowed to sleep? he wondered.

Something fell from the trees, hanging at a distance and swaying.

Gary didn’t stop, walking by the unfamiliar creature.

“Yo, check it out!” Ish spoke.

“Raichu Rai!” Raichu called after Gary before moving to keep up with him.

There was a shout from the new thing as Electivire attacked it, and a moment later, Electivire was following the child.

“You alright, my nigga?” Ish asked, catching up with him.

Gary’s head was swimming. He couldn’t think straight enough to answer, and there were strange, unnatural noises in his head. I... Uuuh... What? Gary sucked his teeth, and then there was a BANG! He leaped in the air and ripped his bag off of him, remembering his gun. “OOOWWWW!!!!” he howled, holding his injured hand, but his frightened eyes were looking around.

Electivire, Raichu, and Ish had wary eyes on him.

Breathing hard, his teeth grit in pain from his hand, Gary asked, “Did you guys hear that bang?”

Electivire and Raichu turned to each other and shook their heads. They both looked to Ish, and the three of them shook their heads at each other. Returning to Gary, they all shook their heads.

“You on coke, nigga?” Ish asked.

With his mouth open wide, Gary inhaled big and held his breath. I’m losing it? Still holding his aching hand, he crept over to the bag and poked at it with his foot. They didn’t hear that? Nothing? He let go of his hand and slowly, cautiously, lifted the bag and turned it around. No holes. The gun didn’t go off? So what was that sound... that only I heard...? Slowly, Gary turned his neck.

Everyone looked a little scared now.

Even Electivire.

Gary held out his hands and smiled shakily. “Okay. Okay,” he whispered. “Ha.”

He slowly went down to one knee, and then lowered the other.

Fell to his left side.

And finally passed out.

*

Ten thousand Plusles in two hours? From just two Badges? I can do that! Gary thought to himself, staring at the latest post from someone on Log-A-Graph named Harold.

He was apparently really popular on the platform, but Gary had never heard of him outside of it. Harold wasn’t an outstanding Trainer, and Gary was beginning to think that maybe that was the point. He was relatable, an everyman, and had nearly one million Supporters who get updates on anything he posts. He’d competed in three Leagues so far and didn’t even get by the preliminaries in any of them. Now, he was traveling through Sinnoh and had gotten two Badges by now. The comments on his latest post contained praise, mixed with some that were less impressed, confused why the guy was getting so much love.

Gary wanted to join in on the dislike of the guy, but he couldn’t be bothered. He also felt a bit of admiration for him not doing so well as a Trainer, and yet continuing on with the same drive, no matter what. If he can do it, I can, too! Gary told himself, and then posted his photo he had taken of his one Badge. Maybe I only have one, but I can get at least a thousand Plusles with that! Gary thought excitedly. Smiling, he then saw the latest from the Champion of the Sinnoh region, Tobias.

His eyes briefly went to the upper right corner of the app where a tiny square with three horizontal lines and a pen was, the number thirty-one in red over it, showing messages Gary had received. He looked from it purposely, knowing these were stupid memes and posts from Scientist Gary that he hadn’t seen yet, and was quite frankly tired of going through. Gary felt the guy was messaging him way too much.

Instead, he watched the video by Tobias. The man was waving out with passion and a smile with his scary Darkrai behind him. He faced Gary and pointed, smiling. “YOOOOU can be next for an open exhibition match, live, for all to see! Any Trainers with three or less Badges has an opportunity to face me and Darkrai for a one-on-three match to see if you have the power to stop my Darkrai.” The video froze.

“Your friend was right, huh? You really do love that nigga,” Ish said.

Gary frowned tiredly at him. “Hey, he’s the man! I’m gonna beat him one day, and then everyone will love him. That’s how fickle people are. They only love you when you’re taken down, but when you’re on top, they won’t give you your due praise.”

“Man, you really do love that guy,” Ish repeated.

Gary just growled in response. The sun was setting and Gary was exhausted. He had managed to squeeze in a couple of hour-long naps, but it just wasn’t enough. He would have slept the day away, but Ish was on a mission, determined to locate his Pichu.

Ish had explained that he was blindsided by a Pokemon of multiple colors that took his Pichu, and he was upset he didn’t recognize it. He was also certain that the Pokemon didn’t act alone, but had a Trainer giving orders. And he was sure that said Trainer was the notorious kidnapper of Baby Pokemon that had been in the news several times.

Gary felt like this wasn’t new information to him, but he also couldn’t remember where or when he’d heard it. And he wondered why anyone would be stealing solely Baby Pokemon. Unconvinced they’d actually locate the Pokemon or Trainer, Gary still wanted to help, and they also were headed in the same direction.

Ish was on his phone, holding it up in the air, trying to grab some of the limited service that Gary had managed to snatch up. He had assumed the service Gary was able to get was due to being right next to Alamos Town.

Gary, on the other hand, was wondering why his reception was pretty bad, thinking Scientist Gary had told him he’d improved it.

All of the Pokemon that the two had were fed earlier, and now Ish was gathering his thoughts, planning his next move.

Right now, Electivire was acting a bit out of character. While Elekid seemed to admire Electivire and wanted to get to know him, Electivire would stare at him with wide eyes before walking away, completely ignoring his previous form no matter what he did.

Elekid was confused by this and ended up giving up, walking away and collecting Ish’s Unown-shaped headphones and Pineapple phone. Lying on his back, his legs crossed, eyes closed, and hands behind his head, he tapped his foot slowly to some lo-fi music.

For some reason, Electivire snuck glances over to the Baby.

Ish also had a Poliwag out with his Salizzle, the muscular creature his male Salandit had evolved into. Poliwag was really young and unable to walk well on land, so Salizzle would catch Poliwag whenever she fell over, either with his tail or leg.

Raichu watched this with an adoring smile, his sunglasses in his paws.

Ish’s plan was to leave the actual Baby, Elekid, out to lure the Pokenapper, with Poliwag, not technically a Baby Pokemon, but hatched not long ago, out as well, just in case she helped bring the creep out.

Gary’s eyes wandered to the trees around him and he froze. His eyes then swept through the area in a complete circle. I coulda sworn I saw a really little tree, Gary thought, staring back at a single tree. Right next to that normal one, Gary recalled.

“Let’s keep moving.” Ish moved swiftly to Poliwag and Salizzle, scooping the Water type up and cradling her in both arms carefully. “We’ve gotta cover more ground.”

A loud blast tore through the trees, cries being heard all over the place.

Ish and Poliwag screamed, Ish falling away from the energy that had shot out at his head.

Elekid was sat up now, his headphones out of his head.

Salizzle called out to Ish.

Gary and Raichu yelled out with surprise.

Electivire cried out at the noise, taken by surprise.

Black birds cawed loudly in the night, flying by the group.

With a roar, Electivire lit up the night, trying to attack the birds, but all of his electricity went right to Raichu.

“RAI-CCCHHHUUUUUUUUU!!” Raichu attacked instead.

The birds all squawked out in pain, many of them fleeing the forest, a couple dropping, left behind.

Everyone stared for a while at the remaining Murkrow. Then Gary’s companions turned from the birds, to Gary, who noticed this and stared back at them all in turn.

The two Murkrow stirred, grabbing everyone’s attention, and then they groaned, puffed out their feathers, ruffled them hard, loosening some, and then cried out angrily at the group before flying off.

Everyone watched them until they were gone, and then Gary was stared at expectantly.

Gary sighed, lowering his head. “I’m really not in the mood right now,” he muttered.

“You don’t seem like it,” Ish responded, getting to his feet, still holding Poliwag. “Do you already have a Murkrow, or do you not like them? They evolve into a really powerful Pokemon called Honchkrow.”

“Okay, but I just wasn’t in the mood,” Gary added, annoyed, perhaps at himself for the lack of an attempt he made to capture a new Pokemon, and the fact that everyone seemed to be judging him for it. “I really just...” He sighed.

“You seem tired. You should have stayed behind and slept.”

“No, I wanted to help you. I also don’t have time to waste. I need to be somewhere.”

“You never said where. Why are you climbing that mountain?”

“Because in a couple more days, a rare Pokemon will be there that I need to capture. A Legendary.”

“Oh, word?? Who??” Ish’s eyes were wide with interest.

“A Jirachi, supposedly. It’s just a rumor...” Gary realized he really didn’t want to grab Ish’s interest in this and have him come along. This was a personal quest he was on. And he needed all three of those wishes. “But maybe I’ll find something else worth the trip. It’s what Pokemon Trainers do, right? Travel? Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor body of water nor gloom of night nor mountain climb stays these Trainers from the swift completion of their chosen quests.”

“That motto is cringe as fuck,” Ish shook his head. “But anyway, that’s what’s up about Jirachi. Good luck, nigga. Yo, I meant to ask you, what happened to that girl? Y’all break up?”

“NO!” Gary exploded, his echoing voice causing animals unseen to fly and run off from their hidden spots. “We’re just friends!”

Ish erupted into heavy laughter. “I’m weak.”

“It’s a long story, but-” He stopped, looking behind Ish.

“Bro, you good?” Ish waved his hand in front of Gary’s face. “You look spaced out.”

Gary blinked twice and then shook his head. “No, nothing. Let’s just go. I’m feeling really weird.”

“Maybe you should cut into Alamos Town and grab a bed before going mountain climbing, bro,” Ish suggested. “You gonna fall off the thing before you reach the top.”

“I don’t have that kind of time. Jirachi will be there, and it’s my only chance for a thousand years.”

“Don’t tell me, you’re gonna try and grant wishes off Jirachi.”

Gary nodded. “That’s right. I can do so much. I can save June. My friend. She was kidnapped by that monster! I can save her, and the whole world!”

“Brooooo! That girl got kidnapped?? By that creature?! No waaaay!!”

“That’s why I need to get Jirachi! It might be the only way I can save her! I can help her, and help a lot of people with those three wishes. I just have to be careful with those wishes. It’s only three and that’s it!”

“Mmmm.” Ish nodded shortly. “I guess there’s a lot you could do, huh?”

“Yeah! I have to do something. I have to-” Gary wasn’t sure what else to say, so he just shook his head and looked about. He then gasped. “Wait, what...?” He walked past Ish and towards three trees.

“Gary, what’s up with you? You see someone?”

“No. But...” Gary stopped at the group of trees and touched them one at a time. Wasn’t I staring at a fourth one before? A little one? He kicked at one of the trees, no real reason behind it. I must really be out of it. “I’m seeing things,” he muttered.

“Bro, take my advice. Get to Alamos Town, get some rest, and rethink this whole Jirachi thing.”

“What??” Gary whipped around to Ish.

“You ever heard the saying ‘be careful what you wish for’? It’s real. You just might get it. There’s a song like that, too.”

Gary recalled the chorus of a song with those words by the rapper Elemenemopee.

“Jirachi is a dangerous Pokemon. Granting wishes comes with consequences. It might just be safer leaving things as they are.”

“And leaving my friend to be killed by that thing? I could even bring her back if she is dead!”

“Rai?!” Raichu uttered, staring at Gary in shock.

“I’m just saying!” Gary shouted at Raichu. He then stared at Electivire.

Electivire was staring back, but looked down when Gary met with his eyes.

Gary swallowed. “June’s fine. Listen!” He looked at Ish. “My point is, no matter what is going on right now, I can offer some help and put an end to it all. To Team Solace, to this monster, and - rescue her in the process.”

“I understand how you feel, but tampering with death, or messing with the way things are isn’t always a good idea. It can be that worse things can be born out of fixing shit.”

“Nothing can be worse than that monster. It’s pure evil and has to be killed, whatever it is. I’m gonna wish that thing back into whatever ring of Hell it crawled out of!”

Ish just shrugged. “I dunno, but just be careful what you wish for. I pray for you, man.” He walked on carrying Poliwag, Elekid running after him, Salizzle at the end.

Gary looked at all the trees in the woods, the three he had thought were four, and the one he had thought was two. He rubbed his eyes and then turned to Electivire and Raichu. Maybe Ish is right... he considered. But I can’t afford to miss out on this. Jirachi is out there, and I’m so close now! “Come on, guys. We’re gonna-” Gary turned away from the Pokemon but ended up looking back. Not back to the Pokemon, but stopping halfway. Quickly, he grabbed his phone and held up his shaky hand that clutched it. The camera on, the flashlight shining, Gary tried hard to take a clear picture of what he was seeing. He needed proof! Several photos later, Gary was sure not one of them came out good, but he couldn’t get his hand to stop trembling! “ISH! LOOK! I’VE GOT IT! LOO-!”

Elekid suddenly stumbled, tripping to the ground. One of his legs remained up in the air, as if being held up by an invisible hand!

Ish stopped and looked back. “Huh? Elekid!”

Salizzle reached out to Elekid to help him, but his eyes narrowed in confusion. He rasped out, seeming to be struggling beside the squirming Elekid.

“Whoa!” Ish cried out as he twisted and then randomly fell on his side, Poliwag flying out of his hands.

Poliwag flew forward briefly before stopping right in midair! Facing downward, she was hovering in the air! The young one was crying and kicking out wildly, not far from the height of Elekid’s raised foot.

Gary wanted to run to their aid, but he couldn’t.

There was something wrong here.

The three Pokemon and their Trainer were fighting against a force Gary couldn’t see.

The forest ghoul thing that Tiny was warning me about?? Gary panicked. His eyes widened on something and he gasped. What’s that?

A line of string in the middle of the air??

Ish’s backpack had a big white patch on it, like webbing. From that patch, a thin string came from it, extending to where it seemed Elekid’s foot was caught in midair, also in line with where Poliwag was floating!

Gary’s eyes kept going along, even though he couldn’t see the string anymore, and he looked deep into the woods. His heart stopped and he grabbed at his chest as pain erupted inside of it from absolute terror at what he was now witnessing.

Leaves and dirt were hovering in the air in a line, connected to something unseen, but vibrating as Elekid, Salizzle, Poliwag, and Ish continued trying to get free. Everything seemed to be connected by something in the air!

“What is that?” Gary choked out, the words an effort to get out.

“VIIIIIIII!!!”

“RAAAAAAAI!!”

Gary turned to the two Pokemon, and he screamed as something came for his face. He was smacked down to his back. He tried to gasp, but something was now covering his face! He could see through holes in it, like webbing! More white streams came for him, and in no time, he realized that he couldn’t move! He was pinned to the ground, unable to get a word out of his forcibly shut mouth. Web? Am I covered in web?? A spider?!? No. No way a spider... A spider Pokemon, maybe?? His eyes were all he could move, unable to see anything but the trees and the dark sky. His right hand was hurting like mad, but he couldn’t scream, only able to let out muffled groans and grunts.

There were more cries now, and Gary recognized them as coming from Ish, Elekid, Salizzle, and Poliwag.

“Rai?! RAI!!” came Raichu’s voice.

“Poliwaaaaaaaag!” Poliwag cried.

“LET GO OF MY POLIWAG YOU BITCH!!” Ish was enraged.

“With this Raichu around, Electivire, can’t harm us,” a new voice spoke slowly and darkly. “With Poliwag attached to Raichu, I don’t expect Raichu to attack. Poliwag can do little on her own, and... this... I don’t... know what this Pokemon is, but it seems to be some kind of Salazzle form? Anyway, on the chance this thing is Poison, rather than threatening it with Toxic-”

Salizzle’s screams and suffering wails were heard.

“SALIZZLLLLLLE!!” Ish roared.

“Sali...zz... Whatever this thing is, it’s suffering from both Curse, putting it in constant pain, and is immobilized by Disable.”

Salizzle continued groaning and uttering out in pain.

“Even more, this thing is now suffering from Infestation. There is nothing you can do,” the voice of the man continued. “You can’t get to your other Pokemon, since you’re pinned by Ariados’ Webs.”

“Ariiiii!”

After a moment, Gary saw a yellow, sparking web appear over him and land.

Ish, Gary, Salizzle, Poliwag, and Elekid were screaming in agony.

“And to top it off, a nice Electroweb to keep you all nice and still as I make my escape,” the man added.

Gary’s body was trembling.

“Leave my Elekid alone!” Ish was straining to say.

“Uh, but... But, you left him here for me! You set up this moment for us to meet!” the man responded. “You wanted me to relieve you of his care and raise him for myself. Let’s not deny this was all the plan.”

“Grrrr! Get away from my Pokemon you freak of nature!!” Ish demanded.

Elekid was heard screaming out, and soon his voice was muffled.

“Don’t worry, kid. I’ll take your phone and make sure he has the music he enjoys. I’ve been watching you guys long enough. I know what he likes... And I know what I like, too...”

Ish exploded in rage, but afterwards, he, Gary, Salizzle, and Poliwag were in pain again, a sparking Web hitting them all.

“Keep calm, and I won’t have to keep zapping you guys,” the man told them.

Gary’s body collapsed, giving up. He knew he couldn’t just give up, but he didn’t know what else he could actually do!

Footsteps were heard and they stopped by Gary. “And I’ll take this as well.”

Gary felt someone touch his belt briefly.

“A two-for-one special.”

Gary’s eyes widened as far as possible. “NNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! RIOLU!!!” Gary tried to let out, but his mouth was held shut by the Webs. He did manage to get his head to move in his frantic actions, snapping a bit of the netting, and he watched a man creep away swiftly with a moving sack slung over his shoulder.

The guy had a Poke Ball in his hand, and he sniffed it hard and noisily before lowering his hand.

Gary, Ish, and the Pokemon were left grunting and groaning, calling out, yelling, fighting, struggling to break free, desperate to save the Pokemon.

The cries of Elekid in the sack got further away.

The man was free to leave, and no one could stop him, everyone stuck to the ground.

There was a shout from a very light voice as the branch of a little tree suddenly became surrounded by a green aura. The branch then magically formed the shape of a stump!

The man turned in shock. “WHAT?!” His eyes were bulging out, his mouth wide, watching in disbelief.

The stump slammed down on the man’s head!

“OOOOOG!!” The man dropped like a weight and remained still, out like a light.

Gary’s eyes were wide with horror and fright.

“Ari!” Ariados leaped at the tree, the ends of its arms glowing purple.

“Crush it with Rock Slide!” Ish ordered.

The tree raised its two branches, and white orbs formed in the air over it. The orbs then turned into rocks outlined in white, and the tree shouted out, forcing its branches forward, and the rocks flew into Ariados, burying it!

The little tree I’ve been seeing! Gary realized. Is it a Pokemon?!

The little tree Gary had seen twice before was the one attacking the old man and the Ariados! Now walking, it spoke something over and over, and then grabbed the sack with Elekid, freeing the little guy!

Elekid cried out happily at it.

The tree spoke to Elekid quickly and then it walked over to Ish. The body of the tree now glowing in a light-blue aura, it pulled, tugged, yanked, ripped, and tossed off pieces of the webbing from Ish!

What is that thing? Gary questioned. Where did it come from??

The creature moved quickly, freeing Ish and Salizzle. It then got Raichu and Poliwag out as well, the two wrapped up together in the same webbing.

Poliwag was sat on the ground, crying loudly and stomping her feet.

“Poliwag. It’s all good now,” Ish smiled as he went over to her and picked her up. He returned her to her Poke Ball, the baby still crying, and then turned to the tree thing. “Good work, my nigga! I knew this would work!” He then looked to his Salizzle.

It was trembling weakly on the floor, unable to get up.

“Salizzle, my nigga, rest up for now! You’ve been through some shit.” He returned Salizzle to his Poke Ball, and then ran to his Elekid, who met him halfway. They both hugged. “Elekid!”

While the two embraced, Raichu and the tree moved to free Gary and then Electivire.

When Gary’s mouth was removed of webbing, he and Electivire stood, Gary confused by what was going on, and what this thing was. The kid groaned, holding onto his right wrist, unable to touch the throbbing hand that was in so much pain.

“Raichu! Raichu!” Raichu greeted the new creature.

“Electivire...” Electivire growled at it.

Gary turned to the thief and was about to run to him to get his Poke Ball back, but Ish shot like a dart, shouting angrily.

“MOTHERFUCKERRRRRRRR!!!!!” Before Gary knew it, Ish was kicking the man, and after that, he was on top of him, punching and pummeling the guy relentlessly. “YOU SICK SON OF A BITCH!! I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU FOR WHAT YOU’VE DONE TO POKEMON, PIECE OF SHIT BITCH!!! I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU YOU FUCKING FREAK!!!” Ish didn’t stop, swinging punch after punch, spitting at him, stopping only to instead choke the old man.

The man looked to be about sixty, a black and gray beard on his chin, his head covered in long, matching hair. His face was a bloody mess in seconds, but he was shown no mercy.

Gary looked away after a while, the grotesque sight outweighing the genuine interest of how far things would go. He couldn’t stop Ish. He didn’t want to. The man got what he had coming, and he was sure he would be the same way if he were in Ish’s shoes. In fact, he almost was! His Riolu! He saw the Poke Ball on the ground and moved for it, scooping it up and smiling. “Riolu.”

“People like this burn in Hell! Fucking faggot ass, pussy nigga!!” Ish punched him again, out of breath by now. “I should fucking kill you!! You don’t deserve jail!! You lucky, you bitch nigga! YOU LUCKY!!”

The man was motionless, and could have passed off as dead.

*

The old man’s unconscious body was being dragged facedown along the ground, Ish holding one leg, Elekid pulling the other.

Originally, Ish had Elekid struggling to drag the man by himself, to redeem Elekid and cause more injury to his Pokenapper, but the effort was a lot for the Baby, so Ish helped out. This was after his Pichu was allowed to zap the creep until Pichu was worn out due to injuring himself everytime he used Electric moves.

Ish’s Sudowoodo, once the young Bonsly, followed up behind them, keeping an eye on the bastard.

The creep’s Ariados was in its Poke Ball, Ish keeping it in his pocket.

Electivire and Raichu were on opposite sides of Gary, Electivire a little further back.

They all stopped at a crossroad. Off to the right was an open plain, and to the left, the beginning of a mountain to climb.

Gary pulled his left hand that was in a black glove, out of his coat pocket and held it out to Ish.

Ish reached out and they both bumped fists rather than doing the cool handshake Ish always did. “Mah nigga, until next time.”

“You sure he’s gonna make it there alive?” Gary joked.

Ish sneered down at the old man. “I hope not. I don’t care. He needs to die. I’ll drag his shit self to the police in Alamos Town and let the cops get him from there.”

“You have to care for all these Pokemon from work, Ish. Don’t forget,” Gary smiled. “You can’t afford jail. You have a lot of good to do for this world.”

“Yeah, and that’s why I’ll try to get him there alive, but no promises.” Ish never looked away from the guy.

“I still don’t get what someone wants to kidnap Baby Pokemon for,” Gary shook his head, looking to the creep. “To sell? Are they worth money?”

Ish shook his head. “It’s more than that. He’s a Pokephile. That’s why he kidnaps Baby Pokemon.”

“He’s a... Poke File? What does that mean?” Gary asked, looking at Ish.

Ish finally looked to Gary and shook his head. “People like him... They...” He took a breath. “They Pokenap Baby Pokemon to...” He paused and wiped at his mouth aggressively. “They sell Baby Pokemon to other creeps like them and do bad things... Look.” He inhaled shakily and let it out in a big sigh, shaking his head. “This may come as a surprise to you, coming from someone like me, but the less you know, the better. There’s some things even I’m not comfortable talking about.”

Gary’s eyes widened at this statement, and he held his breath.

“I’ll see you around some day. Good luck in Sinnoh.”

“Thanks, Ish. I just wish you were competing here, too. We could have that rematch.”

“Next time we meet, let’s battle,” Ish offered, nodding solemnly.

Gary nodded eagerly. “Deal.” This would have been a moment where Gary would be smiling.

But the atmosphere did anything but welcome it.

Elekid nodded to Gary and the Pokemon with him.

“Raichu!” Raichu waved weakly as Elekid and Ish walked down the road.

Electivire grunted, watching them.

Elekid looked back at Electivire with wide eyes.

“Vire!” Electivire looked around and then crossed his arms, turning his back to the Baby.

Elekid stared only a second longer before looking away, continuing to drag the old man with his Trainer.

Gary looked to the curving road leading up and around the mountain. He turned to the two Pokemon accompanying him.

Raichu looked back at him.

Electivire didn’t, instead staring up the mountain.

Gary turned to the mountain again. “This is it, guys. The road to saving June, and the whole world.”

Together, Gary taking the lead, the three of them began their climb.

A sudden, strong burst of wind almost seeming to warn them away.