“Because it was an Absol that died; because it was an Absol that caused all of the issues, it was seen as no big deal.” Gary looked behind him to the silent June.

Her eyes expanded, surprised Gary was speaking to her at all.

“No investigation. Just, it’s an Absol so fuck it.” Gary snickered and shut his tired eyes. “They were more concerned about that creep we left with the Beedrill.”

“Gary, maybe you should take a couple of days off and regroup your mind. Your soul.”

“I’m well enough. There’s no time for breaks.”

“There’s enough time for one Badge, Gary. Please.”

Gary’s Illumise was flying through the air, crying out and having fun with his Skitty who kept determinedly leaping up to try and grab her.

Gary watched the two play inside of the Pokemon Center.

June and Raichu sat at the opposite end of the bench from where Gary was.

Raichu smiled, watching the Pokemon play, his sunglasses in one hand.

Gary’s gaze lowered to his Pokedex and through a list of moves that Skitty had. “Oh, here’s a Fire type move... Oh, it’s just Sunny Day.” Gary sucked his teeth and then sighed. “Man, I dunno about Skitty, either. Melissa caught a lot of Pokemon, but raising them was another thing. That aside, even some of her best Pokemon just aren’t that useful in serious matchups. I’m gonna have to stick with Charizard, Nosepass, and probably Hitmonchan.” He stood up. “Hey, guys, let’s get going!” Somehow, Gary got a smile on his face for his Pokemon. He walked to the front doors.

Illumise let out a happy cry and flew after him.

Skitty cried out in surprise and ran after Illumise in a hurry.

June got up, and Raichu slipped on his sunglasses and followed behind her on all fours.

Together, they all stepped outside. And gasped.

“Whoooooooa! What’s going on??” June stared with wide eyes.

The Pokemon all had their attention on the sight around them.

“This isn’t normal, is it?” Gary said warily.

The blue sky was above as normal, white clouds everywhere.

But below that, there was a thin, gray mist, and dark sparkles were falling as if it were snowing in an opposite fashion from normal.

There were several people outside also staring at the mysterious circumstance, most of them with Pokemon by them.

“Rai...chu.”

“Raichu!” June gasped.

Gary looked over quickly to see Raichu was flat out on his back. “Raichu? What happened to him?”

“I think he’s asleep! But, why?” June knelt down beside him and placed a hand on his forehead. “Hey! Raichu!!”

Light noises near Gary made him turn to see that Illumise and Skitty were both lying on the ground next to each other. “Illumise! Hey! What’s wrong, you two?” He reached out to Illumise but stopped and instead went for Skitty. “Skitty! Hey!” He gently shoved her body a few times. “Skitty, get up!”

Skitty was curled up, snoozing noisily.

Gary looked up and swiped at the falling debris. “What is this stuff??” he shouted. “We have to get out of here!! JUNE!” He blew out from his mouth, trying to keep the stuff away from him.

June had taken the glasses off of Raichu and was rubbing his cheek. She looked at Gary. “Gary, I don’t think this stuff affects us.” She held up her hands. “It seems to be affecting the Pokemon, though.”

“Is it Sleep Powder?”

“It only affects the Pokemon, though. Sleep Powder puts people to sleep. This has to be something different.” She held out a Poke Ball. “Raichu, come back for now.”

Raichu was returned to his Poke Ball.

Gary followed suit, returning Illumise and Skitty.

“And look, everyone’s Pokemon are all knocked out, too,” June pointed.

There were Raticate, Pidgeotto, Beedrill, and other Pokemon of varying types and species that Gary didn’t even recognize, and every one of them was sleeping.

“YOU PEOPLE HAVE TO CLEAR THE AREA WITH YOUR POKEMON!!”

Gary jumped at the voice.

Several beings were making their way through the black droppings. They were humans in white hazmat suits! “I REPEAT, EVERYBODY CLEAR THE AREA WITH YOUR POKEMON!! THIS AREA IS CONTAMINATED!!” These people were all carrying big guns.

People were shouting their questions and confusion, some of them returning their Pokemon.

The hazmat suited people split up, pushing people urgently out of the clearing and into Pokemon Centers, Poke Marts, and other buildings. Their heads were completely covered by helmets with a black screen, a lot like astronauts.

“Okay, okay! I’m going! No problem!” Gary said as he was moved as well. He wasn’t trying to fight against the person moving him, but being forced made it hard to go along as willingly as he wanted to as he just struggled not to fall!

June also moved as willingly as she could versus another forceful hazmat person.

I wonder what’s happening here? Gary thought as he neared the Pokemon Center he had just exited.

The doors opened by themselves, electronically.

An explosive noise quaked the ground lightly and everyone looked to see what had happened. There was a cloud of dirt rising into the air from one big area, but no sign of what caused it.

“THERE’S SOMETHING OUT THERE!” a voice called from far away through a hazmat suit.

“IF IT’S ATTACKING, JUST FIRE AT IT!!” the guy near Gary ordered and pushed him into the building.

A sound that could have been a gun popping went off several times, frightening many watchers into shrieks and panic, but then there was silence.

Seeing that June was still outside, no longer being pushed around by a hazmat person, Gary stepped back out, slipping through the closing doors, and watched with everyone else who had come to a stop.

“I THINK I GOT ‘EM!” a distant voice shouted out.

“CAN YOU SEE-?”

Screaming, a hazmat person flew backwards through the air and landed right by Gary and the hazmat who had put him in the Pokemon Center.

The hazmat who had shoved Gary stared down and gasped. The person then lifted a gun they needed both arms for and fired an onslaught of constant shots, screaming wildly.

Some people ran into the nearest buildings while others hit the ground for safety, shouts filling the air.

Gary stumbled away in shock and fright. What are they firing at?! Gary wondered. He could hurt one of his partners like that! Or an innocent citizen!

There wasn’t much time to think about this as a creature flew into clear view once the bullets stopped. This little being hovered high over the ground.

Gary squinted. “Whoa... A Pokemon?” He was too afraid to move and pull out his Pokedex as he eyed the purple bodied creature with a pink head and its hanging trunk of a possible nose. It looked cool to Gary, but was this what was causing the happenings right now? His eyes went down and then returned to the creature, but then, they lowered again to something creeping up behind it. What is that? He looked back up.

The purple thing had glowing red eyes. It yelled out and fired a dark purple and black beam from its mouth.

People ducked and screamed, covering their heads while running as the beam hit something, the target blowing up immediately!

Running, Gary stumbled against the wind and dirt and tripped, falling and leaning to land on his shoulder. He groaned on impact but the dirt ground landing wasn’t too bad for him. He looked behind him to see that the roof of the Pokemon Center was wrecked!

The thing hovered in the air, looking down at the terrified people angrily.

We can’t even battle this thing, can we? Gary realized. With this crap in the air, it’s impossible to even use our Pokemon! But, why isn’t this thing affected? He struggled back to his feet, trying to think up a way out of this. He did a double take, spotting June!

She was running away from the creature, behind it. “GARY!! RUUUUUUUN!”

Gary started to take that advice but only got one foot before he saw something startling.

People were starting to drop. One by one, many of those running simply collapsed out of nowhere.

There was something else, too. The thing Gary saw earlier approaching through the gray fog. As seconds passed, the spooky figure became more visible. It was tall, and it appeared to be hunched over. It was holding an object up, the thing swinging back and forth.

June looked back. “Huh?? Uh...” She swayed for a bit and then fell to her knees, finally falling flat on her face.

“JUNE!” Gary didn’t know what to do or think. He looked back at the approaching, new figure. His eyes widened as they landed on the swinging object. Some kind of pendulum? It’s a man! Gary realized, and at once, his body began to quiver and weaken. Sleeeep... Gary’s eyes rolled up in his head. And they rolled right back down, widening in absolute terror. He screamed as loud as possible.

Now, before him stood not the man, but the long sought after monster of Prof. Cozmo and the Trick Master!

Gary reached for a Poke Ball and froze. I can’t... This fog! What do I do??

There were screams from those who had not fallen out, but no civilian dared to move.

Even the hazmats yelled out and some of them ran, a couple of them dropping their guns.

“SOLACE, FREEZE!!” one hazmat barked.

All but one stopped immediately, the final one tripping and hitting the ground but not moving.

The hazmat who shouted raised his gun and aimed. “SOLACE, AIM!”

It took a moment, but eventually, everyone had their guns up and aimed at the black monster that had appeared.

The monster’s eyes were the only thing moving, and Gary would have looked away from the sickening sight if the situation weren’t what it was; being that the monstrous creature had returned!

And had he just heard the man say “Solace”??

“SOLACE, FIRE!!!”

Multiple bullets went off loudly, making those watching scream and fall or stumble back.

Moving like lightning, the creature swiped in front of her, and a blue, sparking blanket of sorts opened in front of her.

Multiple little bombs went off in front of the blanket. The bullets??

She then raised a sharply nailed hand and it sparked with blue electricity. Her hand dug into the ground, tearing straight through.

Tiny explosions sparking in blue electricity erupted in a line. The continued explosions actually separated and spread out, finally blowing up loudly and powerfully around the group of hazmats.

They all screamed, engulfed in a cloud of dirt and smoke. When it all cleared, they were all downed, twitching in vocal agony.

A couple of civilians took off, but others were too afraid to even try and were just crying.

The thing, the monster, then turned to Gary, the blue, sparking blanket disappearing.

Gary let out a frightened cry. He knew he was all alone. He couldn’t use his Pokemon for help. Would they even be able to help? He blinked. He froze. His heart stopped beating.

The creature opened her mouth and hissed at Gary, her teeth showing, some of which were twisted and broken. Her disgusting tongue never stopped slithering like a squirming fat slug.

June’s sleeping body near the creature flinched right away. She groaned, her face frowning and tightening as if having a nightmare.

Keeping her eyes on Gary, the creature quickly walked forward.

Gary balled up his fist, knowing a fistfight wouldn’t get him anywhere with her, but having no other options.

Soon, the being was just several feet away, and she ducked down, grabbing June! She held the sleeping Pokemon Trainer down to the ground by the throat. Her body flashed white quickly.

June’s body did the same flash afterwards, and she woke up shrieking in pain! She grabbed at the creature’s wrist as she choked and tried to scream again, seeing her. Instead, she kept choking as her feet kicked out repeatedly.

The creature tightened her grip on June’s throat, causing her to gag. She inhaled sharply, puffing out her big chest. Her creepy eyes were on June like an extraterrestrial looking upon a new experimental human. “Speeeeeeeak...” the creature rasped in a singular, nasty voice.

June opened her mouth and screamed for her life.

No, June. Fight it! You can do it! Gary begged.

The creature’s horrible eyes focused on June.

Nobody spoke or moved.

Gary would have made some kind of motion had he been able to, but he was petrified, unsure of what he could do.

“You are so... ugly...” The creature’s face got closer to June’s.

Gary’s eyes widened at these words.

A disgusted look came over June’s face, and her eyes squinted at the thing, her eyebrows narrowing. “Sister...” she managed to groan out. “Have you looked in a mirror lately?”

The creature bared her teeth and then screamed in June’s face, her fat tongue sliding along her bottom row of terrible teeth.

Gary’s mouth dropped open. June??

June turned her head as far away as she could, shuddering. She let out a moan and her body seemed to go limp. “Heelp...”

Gary took only one step, opening his mouth to let out his rage and try to save June. After that step, he managed another. He got one more out, his scream erupting from within.

Something blinking in an array of striking lights appeared, flying past Gary, heading for the thing holding June.

The monster looked over at the object, releasing June and straightening herself up.

June scrambled backwards.

The object neared the monster and exploded!

The monster let out a wild screech but merely held up an arm and swiped out angrily, not even budging from the blast.

Gary gasped and looked back. “What was-?”

Something walked through the black and gray. A little creature. A red and white bird. It was dragging a white bag behind it, holding the opening over its shoulder.

“You may not have been keeping up on current events, but June is HOT!” a voice came out from the smog. The speaker appeared, stepping forth.

Gary gasped.

“And you just got your ass kicked, pal!” Someone else stepped up right next to him.

“Rob! Aly! What are you guys doing here?!” Gary screamed with happiness. He ran to them.

“Saving your butt, apparently.” Aly gave Gary an expectant look.

Gary sighed and nodded. “Yeah, and thanks, guys. What is that?” He pointed at the bird.

“D-Bag, my Delibird,” Robin answered, beaming proudly.

Aly covered her face with embarrassment and turned away.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Gary didn’t know whether to smile or cringe, and he ended up doing a mix of both.

“Glad that Present blew up. Quality!” Robin told his Pokemon.

It looked to him and nodded, speaking in a weird voice.

A raspy hiss caused everyone to remember the current threat and face it.

June cowered, yelling out in fright as she covered her ears.

The species hovered above them all, her body outlined in blue electricity.

“Something tells me that thing wants a fight,” Robin stated.

“Then we...” Gary turned to Robin. “Hey! Wait! Why isn’t your Pokemon affected by the stuff here?”

“It has the Ability Insomnia, ha ha ha ha ha ha-!”

A figure leaped out from the fog. He was a hunched over man who could have been eight feet tall if he straightened his back. His face was like that of a fairytale troll; ugly, pointed, long and evil. Like a cheesy cartoon villain, he had a long, thin mustache and a little goatee on his chin, a sinister smile between them. In his right hand was a shiny, silver ring on a black string. Facing the monster, he began to swing it.

Gary blinked once. His second blink, he struggled to open his eyes again.

“DON’T STARE!” Robin pulled Aly down to the ground with him. “GARY!!”

June was peeking from her fingers over her face at all that was happening.

With a roar, the creature dropped down immediately and dug both claws into the ground as she landed. The electricity around her vanished, but her claws remained sparking.

A line of explosions went off towards the man with the pendulum.

Gary’s eyes began to close. I’ll sleep... he decided.

The man screamed and dropped his pendulum, collapsing.

Gary found himself blinking, each time stronger than the last. He shook his head hard and struggled to stay up. “Who is that?” Gary asked out loud, looking at the fallen man.

“Let’s worry about that thing first, eh?” Robin called out, getting to his feet. He helped Aly up and turned back to the creature, looking her up and down. “So it really is a female then, huh?” He let out a snicker.

Aly rolled her eyes. “You boys are nasty!”

“How do we stop this thing without our Pokemon?” Gary questioned, trembling uncontrollably.

At those words, something flew forth, appearing from the falling, dark mist. The pink and purple creature! It cried out and just like that, an aura spread out, wiping out the fog and black flakes easily!

In seconds, the entire city was no longer covered in it!

Aly took in a huge breath. “Did that just do that?”

“What exactly is it?” Robin said.

“Its eyes... They were red before...” Gary remembered. “But...”

The thing’s eyes were still red, but they weren’t glowing like before. It was different. It cried out again and flew away from everyone, disappearing from sight around a building.

“Crap!” Robin pulled out his Pokedex. “Man! What was that thing??” He looked around for it.

“Let’s focus on our last problem: your little girlfriend, here!” Aly demanded, and threw a Poke Ball.

“IVY!” Ivysaur appeared, a hard look on her face. As she looked up at her opponent, taking in exactly what it was at hand, her tough look actually started to go away, giving in to shock and disbelief! “Saur...”

“Ivysaur, we’ve got a different enemy today! I dunno what it is anymore than you, but we can do this! Vine Whip!”

Ivysaur’s face toughened up and she charged forward at the monster.

The arms of the monster actually relaxed at her sides as she stood and watched this.

Ivysaur’s body started to glow gold.

“IVYSAUR, STOP! THIS ISN’T THE TIME FOR THIS BEHAVIOR!!” Aly begged.

Not this again... Gary recognized the disobedient behavior of Aly’s Ivysaur. She’s still not listening after all this time?

The monster moved to the side and dodged the Double-Edge with ease.

Ivysaur slid on the ground and turned to face her.

“Ivysaur, please! Use Leech Seed instead! Restrain the thing!”

“Ivysaur! Ivy!” Her bulb started to glow white.

“Oh, no! Ivysaur!” Gary shouted.

“Ivysaur, not Solar Beam!! NOOOO!!” Aly boomed.

“D-Bag, use Seed Bomb!”

D-Bag opened its mouth and fired multiple glowing green balls.

The creature waved and created a blue, sparking barrier that stopped the Seed Bombs which blew up against it. The barrier went away. Her back to the four kids as she faced Ivysaur, Gary could see two large, diamond shaped protrusions extended out of her back like shoulderblades, above her thick buttocks. Her back contained a good layer of hair, but her large behind held noticeably more.

Ivysaur fired Solar Beam from her bulb at the creature.

She didn’t move, instead taking the hit!

Everyone gasped at this lack of response, watching the downed monster.

The four Trainers turned to each other and then looked back to the thing.

Ivysaur growled.

The enemy monster got to her feet. Immediately, so swiftly it made the kids and their Pokemon all gasp, her skin went pure white! She was whiter than snow! The black hair all over her body went white-blonde except for the remaining black hair on her head, and the red designs in the shape of diamonds got very dark. “You have no reason to fight me. I am not what holds you back.” She spoke so pleasantly. Her tone was welcoming and so soothing, coming out in multiple voices at once.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!” June burst out wildly, covering her ears and curling up into a ball on the ground.

The monster ignored June and instead faced Aly. “She is. And you know it. Kill her.”

Aly stumbled back several feet as she stared back at her in shock. “HEY!” She then looked to Ivysaur.

“I don’t need to repeat myself.”

June continued wailing helplessly, as if under torture.

“Do I? Join me, and free yourself from the bondage. I am not here to hurt you.”

Ivysaur’s face softened.

The creature formed a kind smile, staring at Ivysaur.

Ivysaur’s face turned to gentle confusion as she stared back.

A white beam shot out and a Pokemon was shown.

“Electivire!” Electivire spoke.

“Electivire!” June cried.

“An Electivire?” Robin said.

The creature’s eyes narrowed and she turned to see the newest arrival. She nodded. “Again.”

With June screaming again, Electivire roared and attacked with Thunder.

“NOOOOOO!!” June screamed out to her Pokemon.

The creature was shoved back by the blast but she didn’t show much reaction. She bared her wild teeth in a soft smile and held out one hand.

A ball formed in it and grew a little larger, sparking in purple and blue, and it launched at Electivire.

“VIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRE!!!” Electivire howled as he flew back, lifted off his feet, and tumbled on the ground. He came to a stop, sprawled out on his face.

“ELECTIVIRE!” June got herself up and ran to her Pokemon. She got to her knees and touched Electivire’s back. “Electivire, are you okay?”

A white beam fired out and showed yet another Pokemon!

“Hitmoooooooonchan!!” Hitmonchan had gotten out! He looked back at Electivire. “Hitmonchan!” His face held shock. He then turned to the monster and threw out rapid punches. “Hitmonchaaaan!”

Electivire groaned and sat up. Grunting, he watched Hitmonchan.

Hitmonchan flew forward and struck the monster with Bullet Punch.

The monster took the hit in the stomach without even flinching, and she followed up with a kick of her own! Her foot actually wrapped around Hitmonchan’s face. The foot curved more than was normal, the toes about as reactive as fingers. Her toenails were hooked like talons or claws, grabbing into Hitmonchan’s screaming face. Her foot then went down, slamming Hitmonchan into the ground.

Electivire struggled to stand, but he got there. He flexed his arms. But then, he leaned forward in pain and coughed before falling.

The creature turned away from them all and looked down at June. She walked over to her.

“JUNE!” Gary yelled.

“JUNE! NO!” Robin sprinted forth.

The thing grabbed June by the throat and raised her in the air!

June grabbed at the beast’s hand as her feet kicked out from underneath her, choking harshly, her eyes bulging.

Electivire remained still.

Gary bolted for June.

“GARY!!” Aly shouted.

Her skin flipping as quickly as light being affected by a light switch, the strange entity was suddenly pitch black again, the hair on her body also returning to black. “Speeeeeeeeeeeak... WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT???” she spoke from a singular, furious voice again. Her free hand swung back, knocking Robin down as he leapt for her.

He fell helplessly and curled up painfully.

The monster’s hand came back around for Gary, who was following up with his own attack on her, leaping as high as he could.

Gary saw the blow coming. Damn it, he told himself.

“CHAAAN!” Hitmonchan appeared, punching with Bullet Punch, blocking the monster’s swing, protecting Gary.

With a shout, the monster swung with her other arm, using June by hitting her against Hitmonchan!

June grunted horribly from the hit, taking down Hitmonchan as she was let go of.

Hitmonchan landed on his back, his eyes tightened in pain with June on top of him.

Gary leaped at the monster and grabbed at whatever he could of her body. His fingers dug into her face. The feeling felt clumsy, like grabbing at an anthill.

Instantly, the creature dug her nails into his shoulders. Immediately, she lifted Gary into the air and slammed him down before he could even scream out.

Gary grit his teeth together from the sudden shock that enwrapped his body from the impact, his still swollen eye’s pain being reawakened. His arms dropping, he let out a stunned groan. A scream then burst from his throat. His eyes were widening. But against his will!

The monster was using her clawed fingers, digging them into Gary’s face and forcing his eyes open!

His sore eye was burning in pain, Gary wailing as he watched the monster’s eyes become entirely purple. Wait... he remembered.

The creature caught Electivire’s fist, her body lighting up from the Thunder Punch he sent to her, but she didn’t seem to react to it! Her entire eyes flashed with the color purple, and a purple squirt came out of each eye, hitting Electivire in his own eyes! She released Electivire’s hand.

Electivire backed up, clawing at his own face and whining in pain! His own eyes were now both all purple!!

“NOOOO!” Gary burst out. WHAT IS THIS?? NNOOOOOO!! He raised his legs and kicked against her.

Unbudged, she opened her mouth and rasped at him. Her body then rocked at a sudden BANG! and a look of shock came over her face as she looked over to the side, away from Gary. Red liquid burst out of her shoulder and ran down her arm. Her pupils returned to their normal, black creepiness, the purple vanishing only up to the very ends, her iris. She held her attacked shoulder in one hand. More bangs erupted and she let go of Gary, facing the noise and waving both of her hands in front of her, recreating the electric barrier.

Little explosions went off against it.

Continued screams from innocent people were a result of the constant gunfire.

What looked like blood continued running down the beast’s right shoulder.

Electivire finally got up and stomped each foot on the ground.

Hitmonchan shouted out as he got up but stood still, his fists in front of his face, looking ready.

A white beam came from Gary’s side and something else appeared from it!

Charizard roared wildly and attacked right away, striking the barrier with Flamethrower as the bangs continued.

A whole new crowd of people started to show up. Armed officers in different colored uniforms with guns, shooting at the monster!

Her body then flashed white.

White was the next thing Gary saw, blinding him, and he screamed out helplessly as his body was taken over by a consuming force. It felt like the bolts from Electivire, only a lot worse. Before he even realized it, his head was bobbing on its own, some voice speaking to him. “June...” he managed.

“Please, my friends call me Rob.”

Gary struggled to see, recognizing the voice, but his head was telling him puking was just a moment away. He gave it his all to hold the urge back.

“Calling for June, huh? You’ve known me and Rob a lot longer than her. I’ve gotta say, I’m quite offended!”

“Aly...?” Gary struggled out.

“Whoa! Everyone but me, eh? Haha ha ha ha ha ha ha!”

Gary blinked twice and sat up. “ROBIN!” His eyes swam around, but instead of finding Robin, he landed on a blurry vision. He blinked against bright lights that were in his eyes. Struggling to see properly, he could make out a frightening scene.

The officers were all laid out, grasping at the ground for their fallen weapons and shouting out. It was as if they were unable to see properly!

Robin and Aly watched the scene uncertainly.

June was sat up, trembling on the ground, her head down and eyes closed.

The monster, her skin white again, was facing Ivysaur. There was a trail of dried blood leading from her shoulder, down her arm and stopping at where her knees would be, if she had them. She was no longer bleeding.

Gary blinked repeatedly, keeping his eyes shut a couple of times, until the flashing in his eyes was gone and his vision was steady and clear.

Charizard, Hitmonchan and Electivire stood at Ivysaur’s remaining three sides.

“I like you. You all.” The being looked in turn to Electivire, Charizard, and then Hitmonchan before looking to Ivysaur. “Potential.”

Gary shot a look over to June for a moment.

Her eyes as closed as she could get them, she was quivering harder than ever, a consistently rising cry coming out of her throat as she covered her ears, desperate to block out the voice of the monster.

“You will understand. You are greater than them. Better. There is only one to serve.”

Ivysaur bared her teeth and growled. “Ivy Ivy!”

The monster’s expression seemed to change for the worse. Her skin went pure black swiftly. She cocked her head in a strange motion. Her hair then started to move.

“RUN EVERYBODY!!” Gary panicked.

The hair bunched up and then billowed out, holes appearing all over it.

Gary shuddered and cringed, his hands forming tight fists. The act was creepy and disturbing to him. He could also see the creature’s ears now that the hair was raised.

Each of her two little circles of ears seemed to be bent in half, neatly pressed down. She bent her legs, actual knees unclear, and took a strong leap. She was high above everyone in a matter of seconds, making many gasp in fright and point. She looked back down, though it was impossible to tell exactly what she was staring at, if not just everyone.

“IVYSAUR! IVY IVYYYYY!!” Ivysaur shouted up to her.

Her eyes closed. When they opened, she looked ahead and then vanished in a quick burst of speed.

Aly ran to her Pokemon and knelt down beside her, wrapping her up in a hug. “Ivysaur! Are you alright??” She began to cry against her.

Before anyone else could go to their Pokemon, Ivysaur sharply barked out and used Vine Whip, smacking Aly away from her!

Some people gasped at this, but most were still staring at where the monster had been in the air.

Electivire, Hitmonchan, and Charizard also kept their eyes up.

“Ivysaur! Hey, man! What’s that about? Are you alright?” Robin took a couple of steps forward.

Ivysaur shot Robin a dirty look and gave him a quick shout that made him raise his hands high.

“Hey, whoa! What are you doing?”

Ivysaur turned back to the bright skies. “IVYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!” she bellowed.

“A challenge...” June said. Her voice was low and shaky, but loud enough for her friends to hear.

Robin, Aly, Gary, and Charizard looked to June.

“A challenge is coming. Soon.” Her eyes were on Ivysaur. “Isn’t that right?”

Ivysaur didn’t look away from the sky.

Neither did Electivire.

“What do you mean by that, June? Is that what Ivysaur said?” Gary asked.

Aly ran to June and got to her knees, grabbing June’s shoulders, and she gave her a hard shake. “What was said, June?? What did they say??”

June closed her eyes and lowered her head. “Something... They were speaking as if maybe they each knew what the other was talking about,” June replied, shaking her head. “But I couldn’t understand it. The words... There’s something happening. On this world. Something... big.”

“You aren’t making any sense, June!” Aly crossed her arms, glaring at her. “What did Ivysaur say to that thing! What were they talking about??”

“That creature knows something’s going to happen here. On Earth. S-something... A big...” June shook her head and looked at Aly and then those around them.

The officers had their weapons, but they were lowered. Their target had gotten away. They just stood listening to what the kids were saying now.

There were other people listening as well, getting a little closer. Others stood in place, muttering amongst themselves. People also began exiting buildings cautiously.

“I can’t describe what it is. Their choice of words were...” June shook her head yet again. “It was just something - it was like, this - I can’t. I couldn’t do it. I don’t know, Aly. But she knows! That monster thing. Ivysaur, I’m not sure knows what it is, or just isn’t worried if she does know. They were speaking like...” June went quiet and closed her eyes, placing a hand against the side of her head.

“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!”

“Can’t there, though?” Robin brought up, keeping his gaze down.

Aly shook her head.

“We don’t even know what she is. And if she really is a she, she could reproduce, somehow.”

Aly shook her head wildly. “You guys are talkin’ cray cray! We don’t know what that thing is so stop calling it a she!”

“The thing’s got boobs, man!” Robin shrugged.

“So do fat men!” Aly screeched.

Aly’s not listening to reason, again... Gary kept silent. She’s letting her opinion, and probably her fear of the truth, blind her to even being open to the evidence.

There was one fact that Gary knew, though. And it opened a lot more doors, closing not one previously open one.

An officer began yelling into his radio, reporting that the monster was gone, but requesting backup. All of his men then marched off, led by him as he continued speaking on the radio.

The other authority figures remained, looking unsure of what to do as they stared around at everyone, including themselves.

The creature was shot at, Gary told himself.

“It’s some kind of a species! Maybe an alien creature!” Aly insisted.

“There’s zero proof of that! And even if it were, that doesn’t mean it’s not female!” Robin argued exasperatingly.

And right after she did that... flashing thing and blinded me and everyone else, her wound wasn’t bleeding anymore... Gary continued to himself.

“It could be something new to us humans altogether! It’s not from here!” Aly screamed. “It may not relate to male or female!”

“We saw the thing! It clearly has some traits! It’d be wrong to just disregard things we’ve seen!”

“I’m not disregarding anything! YOU ARE!!”

How is that possible?? She was shot! But the blood stopped running, as if healed or something! Gary recalled.

Robin stared at Aly with an exhausted look. “Aly... You’re not listening to me...” he sighed.

“You’re the one not listening! It has to be an alien! Not male, or female, but some kind of evil, horrible thing. Did you notice it wasn’t put to sleep in the mist that put all of the other Pokemon asleep?”

Robin’s eyes widened.

This took Gary’s attention and he listened to her more closely.

June also looked to Aly.

“And we know THAT thing ISN’T a human being! So, it must be extraterrestrial by nature.” She placed her hands on her hips. “Well? Got a response to that? Or are you gonna tell me that thing was some kind of Pokemon? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh?? Huh? Huh??”

Robin scratched his head and then sighed in defeat. His head lowered. “I mean... You’ve got me, I guess...”

“Eeeeeexactly!” Aly beamed and nodded with pride.

But if she’s not a Pokemon, Gary continued his thoughts. And she’s not human.

“ELECTIVIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRE!!!!” Electivire exploded in a rage, sending electricity into the sky, more bolts crashing back down to the earth around him.

Gary watched this, thinking on what had occurred.

People screamed in surprise, backing up or just taking off.

The authorities raised their weapons and began shouting.

“WAIT! IT’S OKAY! HE’S JUST UPSET!” June ran towards them, waving her arms wildly, calming down the situation.

Watching this, Gary’s eyes widened. “Hey!” He looked around.

“Gary?” Aly questioned.

“What happened?” Robin asked him.

“The guys...” he mumbled, turning around. The ones who had screamed out the name of Solace, he thought to himself. Where are they? Were they really Team Solace members?

There were no answers to these questions because the ones who had previously been stunned by the monster.

The hazmat people with the guns.

Were all gone.