The enormous, black canvas hung high in the air, littered with glitter, sparkling above the three of us beautifully. The constant chirping of crickets surrounded us.
“Sure is romantic, don't you think?” Courtney asked, walking close to me.
I looked away from the sky and turned to see Courtney smiling at me. “Yeah,” I muttered quickly, looking back up. Sighing, I moved over to the side, a little bit further from Courtney.
June turned her head back and stared at us coldly as she led the way through the woods.
We'd been traveling for what felt two hours, the tight gathering of trees around us giving us more space the further we walked.
My jacket was unzipped on this surprisingly warm night.
“Need help with something?” Courtney asked June with disdain.
“As a matter of fact, yes,” June answered, scowling at her. “Is there a reason you're here?”
“Huh?” Courtney responded, shock on her face.
“Why are you following Gary and me?” June asked Courtney. “I'm rather curious.”
“Oh, am I intruding on something, here?”
“Don't try and change the subject,” June snapped. “I don't remember inviting you to this group, and I don't recall hearing Gary invite you in, either. Now, what exactly do you want from us?”
Courtney snickered, a smirk on her face. “I certainly want nothing from you.”
“Why don't you go beat it?” June growled.
“Because I don't know where I am,” Courtney told her. “I was pulled into this craziness. A bunch of ancient Pokemon were set loose somehow due to some mumbo jumbo those crazy guys were talking about in Twist Mountain, talking something about that group, Team Solace, I find myself in some strange dream world thing thanks to a Beheeyem, and then we all stumble upon an amazing little piece of paradise inhabited by Tranquill that is burned to the ground by some more wackos claiming to be from Team Solace. Then, when we finally reach a town to find out where we are, your Rotom ruins everything by getting some poor child snatched up by a damn-”
A shrill scream escaped June's throat as she leaped at Courtney.
Courtney cried out and dropped to her knees, covering her face with her arms as June slapped at them repeatedly.
“June, cut it out!” I yelled, and I grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back.
“Stop saying that about my Rotom!!” June screeched, trying furiously to break away from my grip. “Say it again!! I dare you!! One more word!! Get off of me, Gary! I'll kill her! I'll kill her!!”
My grip was slipping as I dug my fingers into her shoulders, desperately trying to hold her back. “June, what is wrong with you? Stop it! Cut it out! Enough, already!”
Courtney got to her feet and dusted off her clothes, swallowing nervously as she stared at June and adjusted her glasses. She then brushed aside her blonde hair with both hands. “Well, it's no wonder Gary isn't your boyfriend with that kind of attitude.”
June burst out angrily and broke free from me, but I was ready for her and I tackled her around her waist to the ground, holding her down. She kicked and screamed from underneath me, clawing at the dirt as she growled like a pitbull, trying to reach Courtney.
“I don't know how you put up with her, or why,” Courtney shrugged, keeping her eyes on June as she walked around us and deeper into the woods.
“You know, sometimes, I don't know, either,” I said angrily, glaring at June.
My words seemed to cause an instant reaction in June. She immediately stopped growling and her body eased up underneath me.
Courtney stopped walking, keeping her eyes on June.
“Are you quite done?” I demanded.
June’s head nodded, dirt smeared on it, and she let out a breath through her nostrils.
I removed myself from her and got to my feet, adjusting my clothes.
June slowly climbed to her feet and brushed the dirt from her clothes, keeping her head down. She walked forward, her head still down, approaching Courtney.
Courtney moved to the side and June walked right by her, paying her no mind, and she continued to walk deeper into the woods.
“Thank you so much, Gary,” Courtney said happily, stepping up to me. “You saved me from her!” Her arms opened and she wrapped me in a hug, her breath coming out in a sigh of relief against me. “Thank you so much.” She nuzzled her head against my shoulder.
I stared down at her in shock, my nose catching the incredible, alluring scent of her hair, and then I looked up to see June's pace pick up speed as she got further away from us. “June, wait a sec!” I called out to her, struggling in Courtney's tight hold.
“Gary, let her go,” Courtney said gently, hugging me even tighter. “We don't need her.”
“Courtney, what are you talking about? Let go of me!” I broke free from Courtney's hug as she looked up at me in surprise, a slight gasp escaping her mouth. “June!” I ran away from Courtney and chased after June, the delightful smell from Courtney’s hair still with me.
June started to run away.
My heart picked up the pace of its beat at the sight of her running from me. Stop being stupid, June! I thought angrily, and my feet pounded into the grass as I chased after her.
She was making space between us quickly, surprisingly.
I could feel anger building inside of me and my face curled up as I moved even faster, forcing myself to catch up with her. Within a matter of seconds, I held June's shoulders in my hands and turned her around.
She pulled her shoulders free from me with an angry grunt and wiped at her face with her hands. It was evident that she was crying, her eyes still glossy as she glared at me.
The sound of Courtney running through the woods after us got closer, but neither of us turned towards the noise.
“What is your problem, June? Why did you just run?” I shouted at her.
June looked away from me. “It was nothing.”
I gripped her shoulders tightly and gave her one strong shake, demanding she look at me. “Don't give me that crap! Talk to me, June! Come on! It's me, Gary. You can talk to me about anything. Do you not know that by now?”
June stared into my eyes mournfully as they started to water up again. She nodded slowly. “Yes,” she whispered.
“Then, why don't you?”
June's mouth opened to speak, but she looked behind me and it closed.
Courtney had finally reached us, letting out a gasp from behind me. “What are you two doing?”
I removed my hands from June's shoulders and turned to Courtney.
None of us spoke as we all stared at each other.
Courtney was breathing hard as she stared from me to June. “I think we need to have a little talk or something. I'm tired of all of this fighting and stuff.”
June and I turned to each other before looking back at Courtney.
June inhaled and then exhaled. “Courtney, I-”
“Wait, do you hear that?” Courtney shushed June as she looked around her.
We were all silent as we looked around, and the sound of rustling grass made us all gasp. We turned around in slow circles, trying to identify which direction the noise was coming from. As the noise got closer, we turned to look behind where Courtney was standing as the sound got nearer to us.
Is that a person? I wondered, squinting into the darkness. My eyes widened in horror. The people from that town? Have we been captured?
Before I could move, two small creatures stepped out from the trees.
“Whoa! Look!” I exclaimed.
“It's that girl!” Courtney pointed as the child walked towards us with a bland look on her face.
Something was walking next to her, its eyes glowing white and twinkling like a star.
“Polly!” June cried.
“But, what's that with her?” I pulled out my Pokedex. “Is it a Pokemon?”
Gothorita. The Manipulate Pokemon. This is Gothita's evolved form. This Pokemon's source of power is starlight, and it can use this power to control people and Pokemon for company.
Polly and Gothorita walked past us, their eyes focused straight ahead, and they made a sudden turn and disappeared from view in the trees.
“Hey! Hold on a second!” I called out. “Polly, where are you going?”
“Something's wrong with Polly,” June said firmly. “We have to stop that Gothorita. I think she's got Polly under hypnosis!”
“What? Why? We have to save her!” I ran forward and turned the same corner Polly and Gothorita took and made my way past the two, stopping in front of them and extending my arms.
June and Courtney ran after me, stopping on either side of me, crossing their arms.
“Hold it!” Courtney ordered. “What do you think you're doing with Polly?”
“Courtney, just wait a minute,” June said in a strict, low voice. She knelt down on one knee and stared into Gothorita's face.
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Gothorita stared at June silently, her eyes dazzling and dancing.
Polly's blank stare was looking past June as she stood completely still next to Gothorita.
“Gothorita, please, what's going on?” June asked the Psychic Pokemon. “We need to take Polly back home. Why do-?”
“Gothorita? Goth!” Gothorita's eyes narrowed angrily and she cupped her hands, charging a Shadow Ball attack.
“Gothorita? Wait a second!” June stood up, taking a step back.
“June, move!” I shouted, and I pulled her down by her shoulders with me to the ground.
A brief, low explosion was heard as the Shadow Ball slammed into the surrounding trees.
“Gothorita!” Gothorita shouted.
June and I looked up to see Gothorita and Polly running away.
“Gary!” Courtney reached over to me and extended her hand, helping me to my feet.
I nodded appreciatively and turned to where Gothorita and Polly had disappeared. “We have to find them! June, did you get any kind of reading off of her?” I reached down to help her up.
June shook her head solemnly as she took my hand and got up. “She didn't tell me anything.”
“Oh, not this stupid mind reading claim, again,” Courtney rolled her eyes. “Gary, don't tell me this girl has you believing she-”
“Courtney, if you don't believe in June, you're only in our way,” I interrupted her. “We don't have time for this.”
I caught June smirk with satisfaction at Courtney, Courtney staring back at me in confusion.
I turned away from the both of them, growing impatient with their childish behavior, and I ran after where Polly and Gothorita had last been spotted.
Gothorita's breathing was loud and hurried, Polly's footsteps keeping up with the Pokemon.
“Polly!! Pooollyyyyy!!” I shouted after her. “Gothorita, get back here, right this second!!” What is that Gothorita doing with Polly? I wondered angrily. I could see them up ahead, and I pushed myself to move faster. They won't get past me! It wasn’t much longer before I ran past them.
Polly and Gothorita stopped at the same time as I blocked their path, looking up at me.
Polly's eyes were empty, tired, and her face was expressionless.
Gothorita glared at me with her sparkling eyes. “Gothorita! Gothorita!” she shouted at me.
“Just tell us what's wrong! You can't run off with that girl, Gothorita!” I said to her as I heard Courtney and June get closer to us as they ran through the woods.
Gothorita looked behind her to where the footsteps were getting closer. She turned back to me and nodded. “Gothorita…” she said in a more gentle voice.
My eyes widened in surprise. Is she going to work with me? Is she going to try and tell me what's going on?
Gothorita and Polly stepped up to me.
I stared back expectantly as my heart beat harder than ever.
Gothorita slowly raised a hand and pointed behind me. “Gothorita.”
I turned my head around and looked into the darkness, trees, grass, and rocks. “Ooof!” I exclaimed painfully as something hit me across my cheek and I was dropped to the ground like a dead weight. My eyes closed, I grunted as I felt two things jump on top of me and then run off.
June and Courtney finally reached me and stopped by me, both girls crying out.
“Gary!” Courtney gasped. “What happened?” My eyes opened to see her kneel down next to me and place one hand on my shoulder, staring sadly into my eyes.
“Gary, are you alright?” June knelt down next to Courtney.
My cheek throbbing in pain, I shook my head and climbed to my knees. “Feint Attack. I fell for the damn Feint Attack! They're getting away! Come on!” I got up to my feet and my legs quivered as I ran.
“Elgyem, use your Psychic attack to grab that girl!” I yelled as I threw his Poke Ball.
“Elgyem!” Elgyem cried once freed from his Poke Ball, and he floated by my right side as I ran.
I scanned the area desperately, trying to spot Polly and Gothorita.
“She isn't listening to us!” June shouted from behind me. “We have to get through to her somehow!”
“This doesn't make any sense! What is she doing with Officer Jenny's daughter? I thought Duskull stole her!” Courtney questioned.
“They may be working together or something,” I realized. “This may be a part of something even bigger. Wait, there they are! Elgyem, Psychic! Go!”
Elgyem's eyes glowed blue as he prepared to use his Psychic to grab the little girl.
Polly and Gothorita both stopped and turned to Elgyem. Gothorita leaped in front of Polly and her hands reached out in front of her. A turquoise energy shield appeared in front of her and the blue energy from Elgyem's Psychic bounced off of it.
“El!” my Elgyem uttered.
“She knows Protect!” June noted.
Gothorita's Protect faded and she cupped her hands again, forming and then throwing Shadow Ball at Elgyem.
“Elgyem!” He was forced back through the air.
I caught him in my arms with a determined grunt and stumbled back a couple of feet. “You alright?” I asked him.
Elgyem shook his head quickly and looked up at me, nodding. “Elgyem! El!”
“They're getting away! Galvantula, help us out with Spider Web, now!” June threw her Poke Ball.
“Galvantulaaaa!” Galvantula hissed as she was sent out, and a white thread was spat from her mouth, opening and forming a web in front of Gothorita.
Gothorita and Polly both stopped in front of the web and turned, Gothorita's face holding rage.
June smiled and nodded with satisfaction.
“Gothorita! Goth! Goth! Gothorita!” Gothorita shouted at June.
“I don't want to fight, Gothorita! I only want Polly back, and to know why you won't give her back! We don't have to fight! Please, talk to us!”
“Gothoriiiiiita!” Gothorita’s eyes started to glow dark blue.
“Sucker Punch!” June told Galvantula.
Galvantula vanished and reappeared in front of Gothorita to deliver a swift blow from one of her legs, throwing Gothorita back hard.
Gothorita slid on the ground, groaning painfully, stopping just short of the giant web.
“Polly!” June called out, stepping towards the young girl who was staring in our direction blankly.
Polly didn't move a muscle.
“Goth!” Gothorita got to her feet quickly, her eyes no longer glowing dark blue, having returned to their normal blue color. In the next instant, they flashed in the dark blue color again.
Galvantula's body was outlined in dark blue and she was lifted into the air, squirming around painfully. She called out as her body was controlled by Gothorita's Psychic power, slamming her into trees and the ground repeatedly. She was finally released after a short while.
“Galvantula, hang in there!” June encouraged her Pokemon. “We can win this fight! We have to save Polly! Use Bug Buzz!”
“Galvaaaaaaaan!!” Galvantula screamed as red waves spread out from her body.
Gothorita's hands reached to the sides of her head as she closed her eyes and screamed.
I also joined Gothorita in covering my ears and groaned in pain from the shrill noise emitting from the spider Pokemon.
Courtney was screaming next to me.
When the attack ended, Gothorita was on her knees, her hands still at the sides of her head, glaring at Galvantula.
“Now, let's end this with Bug Bite! Go get her!” June ordered.
Galvantula's mouth opened wide as she ran towards Gothorita.
“Huh?” Polly blinked her eyes repeatedly and looked around her in shock.
June gasped.
“Whoa! Polly!” I pointed at her.
Galvantula leaped at Gothorita to attack.
Gothorita closed her eyes and cowered.
“Nooooooooooooo!!!” several screams came from out of nowhere.
I looked around in surprise and gasped with June and Courtney as a group of small children burst through the shadows of the woods!
They all formed a line in front of Gothorita and extended their arms, glaring at Galvantula.
“Galvantula, wait! Return!” June quickly recalled her Pokemon as the spider cried out at the appearance of these kids, her legs flailing in the air as she tried not to land on the youngsters.
“You won't hurt our friend!” a little boy yelled at us angrily.
“Stay away from our friend!” another boy ordered.
“Why are you attacking our friend?” a girl cried sadly at us.
There were six new children, all chattering at us, upset at us.
Gothorita opened her eyes and stared at the children in amazement as a smile came over her face.
Courtney, June, and I turned to each other before facing the kids again.
“Just leave!” the first boy demanded. “Leave us alone! We're all friends here. We can't and won't go back home. Ever!”
“But, why?” June took a step towards the children. “I don't understand what's going on!”
“These might be the kids from that classroom,” I murmured in realization. “These might very well be all of them. All of the kids that the Duskull took.”
June turned to me, disbelief on her face. She turned back to the kids. “You're all from the town nearby? You're all the missing kids?”
The first boy stepped forward in his stained, black slacks and white button up shirt tucked into them, a dirty, gray, open blazer over his shirt, and smudged black shoes on his feet. “We're from Prime Town. We don't know where that is anymore, but we also don't care. A mean Ghost Pokemon took us away and had been scaring us really bad, and then this new friend of ours saved us from it. So, we can't go home. That Ghost Pokemon is waiting there for us. We're only safe with Gothorita.”
The other kids agreed, nodding quickly.
Gothorita closed her eyes and nodded, still smiling.
Suddenly, a loud scream and a desperate cry made us all turn around.
Polly was on her knees behind the other kids and Gothorita, screaming and crying, her hands covering her face.
“Polly!” Courtney walked over to the little girl and sat on the ground next to her, pulling her into a hug.
Polly cried against Courtney. “I want my mommy!” She screamed even louder.
Courtney rubbed her back. “It's okay, honey. Everything's gonna be okay. We're going to find your mommy for you, okay?”
“Polly, you don't need your mommy,” the boy in his gray blazer said, stepping up to his friend. “You've got us, and Gothorita. We're better than stinky parents.”
Polly continued to cry, her voice rising drastically.
The boy's face fell at Polly's reaction to him.
“I… Want… My… Mommyyyyyyyyyyy!!” Polly screeched, crying hysterically.
Courtney smiled at me wearily as she rubbed Polly's back. “Sshhh,” Courtney said as she turned back to the crying child. “We're going to take you to your mommy, okay? We're going to get you all back home.”
“None of us are going back home!” the boy insisted. “We're all staying right here! Now beat it you stupid faces!”
“What is your name, little boy?” June stomped over to the child and crossed her arms, glaring down at him.
The boy looked down, suddenly seeming intimidated. “Theodore…” he muttered.
“Theodore…” June repeated thoughtfully. “Hmmm. So, are you saying you don't miss being home at all?” she asked in a gentler tone, smiling.
Theodore sniffled. “Y-y-y-yes… But… I can't! We can't go back home! But…” He sniffled harder and began wiping at his eyes. “I miss my mommy and daddy!” His little hands covered his eyes as he began to cry.
“Awww. You poor little thing, come here, sweetheart,” June said as she knelt down in front of the child and pulled him into a hug.
Theodore hugged June back tightly, crying and sniffling repeatedly.
The Duskull… I thought to myself. “What are we gonna do?” I asked out loud to no one in particular.
“Gothorita…” Gothorita had her head down as she took very slow steps towards June. “Gothorita… Gothorita Gothorita Gothorita. Gothorita. Gothorita, Gothorita, Gothorita, Gothorita.”
June held Theodore closely as Gothorita spoke to her.
Theodore had stopped crying and turned around to look at Gothorita.
June's eyes widened and she inhaled sharply in a low gasp.
“Gothorita. Gothorita, Gothorita.” Gothorita never lifted her head back up as she finished saying what she had to say.
June stared back sadly at Gothorita.
“June?” I asked her.
June didn't respond, her eyes trained on Gothorita.
Theodore sniffled and wiped at his nose.
“June, is everything okay?” I asked louder. “What did she say? What's going on, exactly?”
“Oh, don't tell me this is another one of June's claims to be understanding Pokemon, again,” Courtney said loudly, impatiently. “Gary, we saw what happened the last time-”
“Just shut up!” I barked. “What did I already tell you? If you don't believe her, you're only in the way!”
Courtney lowered her head and stayed silent, looking ready to cry at my words.
June smiled at me, but it quickly faded away to seriousness. “This is not what we thought it was at all, Gary. This is really bad. At the rate things are going, that town is gonna be entirely empty of children, and none of them are gonna want to go back home!”
“June, please, tell me! What's going on back there? What is this all about?” I pleaded.
Courtney sighed loudly and shook her head, looking up into the sky.
June and I ignored her, keeping our eyes on each other.
“Of course, I'll tell you what's up,” June said seriously. “But after that, we have to get back to that town and end this madness, once and for all.”