“If June thinks she knows what the problem is, why doesn't she just go back there by herself and help all of these kids?” Courtney complained wearily. “I don't want to get arrested!”

“Then why don't you just get out of here already?” June screamed.

“June, take it easy,” I muttered. “Not in front of the kids.”

June gasped and looked around her.

The group of children were on either side of the three of us, three on our left, and the other four on our right.

Gothorita was walking in front of us.

We were all heading back towards the town we had escaped from after Duskull had snatched away Officer Jenny's daughter, Polly, leading to us being chased out by a small mob of angry adults made up of parents, three cops, and teachers.

June had read Gothorita's words that were spoken to her a couple of hours ago and told me what she had heard from the Psychic Pokemon. She was determined to return the children to the town and resolve this horrifying situation.

All of the kids around us held a piece of fruit they were eating that Gothorita had given them. But now, the young ones had stopped chewing as they watched June and Courtney argue, frightened looks on their little faces.

Gothorita continued walking but turned her head around to stare at the two girls who were fighting.

“Yeah, June,” Courtney smirked. “We have company. Try and hold in your irrational behavior until we get them back home, will ya?”

June turned to Courtney sharply but didn't make a sound, a deep loathing in her eyes. She looked ahead and continued to walk through the woods with us, glaring furiously.

“Miss June?” a little boy asked in a low voice, looking up at June nervously.

“Huh?” June turned to the boy with surprise and a smile spread over her face. “You can just call me June, honey. What's the matter, sweetie?”

The boy whose name I had forgotten looked away from her, to the ground. “Are you sure things will be okay when we get back home?” The child's voice was adorable. So innocent. So scared.

“Awwww!” Courtney exclaimed, coming to a stop as her hands clasped together near her face, staring down at the child in adoration.

Our entire group stopped and turned to him.

“He's so precious!” Courtney started to walk towards him. “Hey, listen to me. O-”

“Excuse me, I don't believe your name is June,” June interrupted, and she stepped in front of Courtney as Courtney gasped loudly, and approached the young kid. A loving smile crossed her face. “Aw, little one!” She knelt down and opened her arms.

The boy walked over to her and June pulled him into a hug.

“Hey, you keep your head up, okay?” June said reassuringly. “We're going back home, and everything is going to be just fine. We're going to make sure of that, okay? You won't have to worry about anything anymore.”

“You promise?” the boy asked sadly.

June held the boy's shoulders in her hands, maintaining her smile.

The boy smiled back a little bit.

“I promise. We'll make everything better,” June nodded.

The boy smiled wider and nodded. “Okay. Thank you, Miss June.”

June gushed over the boy's cuteness and hugged him again, practically looking like a happy mother.

I had to smile as I watched them, my body filling with warmth and comfort at the sight. Despite what had occurred for June, Courtney, and I since entering Prime Town, I felt relaxed at this moment.

The other kids had begun to slowly walk closer to June, hopeful looks on their faces.

June pulled away from the boy in her arms and noticed the cautious children around her. “Hey, you're all going to be okay. No more tears, okay, guys? No more fear.”

The kids all dropped their fruit and surrounded June in hugs and excitement, inspired by her words.

“Hmph,” Courtney muttered, crossing her arms over her chest, glaring at the scene.

“Gothorita…” Gothorita smiled at June and the children surrounding her.

June looked over at Gothorita and nodded, smiling. “Let's keep going, everyone.” She stood up and turned to me, beaming brightly.

I nodded back at her.

June walked with Gothorita by her side, the both of them surrounded by the kids as Courtney and I followed from behind.

Courtney was fuming, mumbling things, her eyes glued to the back of June's head.

I found myself wondering exactly why Courtney was with us right now. If she was so mad at June, she didn't have to stay with us. She really didn't have a reason to be heading back to this town at all.

“There,” June pointed, coming to a stop.

Up ahead was the familiar town we had all been in. From here, I could spot the school building in the distance, several police officers posted in front of it, leering around.

There were also other adults in the area with either angry, mournful, or tired looks on their faces.

My eyes widened as I recognized the tired looking Officer Jenny. I looked around, but I couldn't spot the mean Jenny or the chunky Jenny.

The kids all gasped in unison, which was surprisingly cute actually, and then they started to whimper and mutter amongst themselves.

“I'm scared, Miss June!” a little girl cried, grabbing June's hand.

“Me, too, Miss June!” a boy whined, bouncing in place.

“Miss June, do we have to go back?” Polly sniffled, holding Gothorita's hand as she looked up at June.

All of the kids were crying and begging to not have to return back home.

Courtney and I exchanged glances before looking back at June and the children.

“Hey,” June smiled, raising a hand into the air.

The kids all went silent.

“What'd I say? Everything's gonna be just fine. No more crying. This is the time to be happy. There's no longer anything to be afraid of. You'll all be back home with your parents really soon. From here on out, everything is going to be just fine. Alright?”

The kids all nodded slightly, frightened looks on their faces.

June nodded to one side and then turned her head, winking at the group of kids on the other side of her. “Now, let's get home!”

The kids all chattered with excitement and followed June and Gothorita through the woods.

I stepped forward to walk with them, but Courtney grabbed my arm and pulled me back. “Hey!” I exclaimed in shock, turning to her.

“Gary, let's run! The kids are safe now and June is going to jail! Come on!” Courtney begged, and yanked my arm towards her.

I pulled back my arm angrily. “What is wrong with-?” I started to yell.

“FREEZE!! You're under arrest!!” a voice shouted.

A bright light shined from behind me, and I turned around only to be blinded by the beam from a flashlight.

“Hands in the air, right now!!” the voice of an Officer Jenny ordered.

The kids were all screaming and crying now as I raised my hands, my eyes closed tight.

“It was all June! I'm innocent! Please, take her!!” I heard Courtney beg.

My arms were grabbed roughly from behind and pulled back hard. I groaned in pain as I was forced forward, out of the woods. My eyes squinted open, still blinded by bright flashes in front of my eyes from the flashlight that had shined in them just seconds ago, and I blinked repeatedly to clear my vision. Oh, great, I thought in fear as I stared at both the tired Jenny and the mean Jenny, both women glaring at me, though the tired Jenny looked less threatening than she did exhausted.

The mean Jenny also had a gun pointed at my face, and my eyes were glued to it, my heart beating rapidly as I swallowed hard.

“I recommend you not try anything, kid,” the mean Jenny warned me.

“MY POLLYYYYYY!!!!” a voice shrieked, making me jump in surprise, and something shot in between the mean Jenny and I like lightning.

I turned to see that the group of kids were now with five police officers who were each knelt down in front of a child, checking their faces and arms while pointing a tiny flashlight at them.

I realized that it was the wider shaped Officer Jenny who had screamed, and she was now knelt down in front of her daughter, hugging her tightly as she swayed from side to side.

The child's eyes were wide with shock, her mouth wide open as she seemed to be trying to speak, but was unable to do so due to her mother's powerful hold.

The mommy officer was speaking so many different words to her daughter that I couldn't understand a single thing being said. It may have even been a different language.

The other adults in the area that weren’t cops, ran towards the kids, and in seconds, the children were all in the arms of at least one adult. Most of these grown ups were crying while hugging the children while the others were talking to them seriously with concern on their faces and tears in their eyes.

The cops were pushed to the side, staring uncertainly from each other, back to the kids with the gang of worried adults.

“Gah! Please! We found them all! We found all of the missing kids!” June cried.

I turned my head to see June off to the side, struggling with a male officer that had her arms held behind her back.

Gothorita was looking at us all in shock while the officer holding June, and a couple of other Officer Jennys, stared at the Psychic Pokemon in confusion, seeming unsure of what to do.

“Don't say a word!” the mean Jenny yelled at June, pointing her gun at her.

June gasped, along with the kids. She immediately stopped squirming against the officer holding her.

It became uncomfortably quiet as everyone stared at the serious Jenny pointing her gun at June.

Even the mommy Jenny had turned around, loosening her grip on her daughter.

Polly gasped, staring at June in horror.

“Just take them away!” the mother Jenny insisted to her partner.

“Oh, I will, that's for sure!” the mean Jenny sneered with a nod. “We all stuck around just to make sure we caught you little punk kids. A criminal always returns to the scene of the crime.”

“No, it's not like that!” June pleaded.

“I said, shut up!!” the mean Jenny barked, waving her gun at June. “Arrest these kids immediately, and be sure to read them their damn rights I quite frankly would rather beat them over the head with than allow them to have. I don't want any technicalities here. They're going down. Hard!”

“Gothorita! Gothorita!” Gothorita ran forward and stopped in the middle of the crowd, waving at us all desperately.

“Listen to her!” June called out. “She says that we helped those kids! Gothorita was keeping the kids alive, Officer Jenny!”

The officer squinted at June, her gun as motionless as a stone as she listened.

“That Duskull that's been stealing the kids has been keeping them in some kind of hideout in the woods nearby, terrifying them!” June explained to everybody. “A lot of Ghost type Pokemon feed off of fear. Duskull are known to kidnap children because they enjoy the sound of their crying, and this Duskull would keep the kids for himself, just to terrify them and make them cry for his own enjoyment! One by one, Duskull was stealing these kids, but Gothorita found out what he was doing and helped the kids escape! She started keeping watch on Duskull and freeing the children that he would steal away! The kids were always scared and alone and crying. Gothorita herself is alone, too, so she would hypnotize the kids to calm them down and make them her friends. She doesn't have any friends out in the wild. She was saving the kids and giving them a new home with her, where they could be happy and safe together. She was protecting them!”

“Goth…” Gothorita sighed in relief, smiling hopefully at the crowd of people.

There was silence now, everyone staring at June and Gothorita, some with blank looks, some confused, and others in shock.

The mean Jenny glared even harder at June and then turned to Gothorita. “Arrest that Pokemon, too!” The mean Jenny pointed her gun at the Gothorita, and the Pokemon cried out in confusion. “This must be an associate of the girl's! She just confessed that that thing has been kidnapping the children of this town and holding them hostage against their will by putting them under hypnosis!”

“That is not what I said!” June screamed angrily. “The kids were too terrified to return home!! They were afraid of Duskull! Gothorita was hypnotizing them to keep them calm!! Will you listen to-?”

“Please, I didn't do anything!” Courtney begged. “It's all June! It's June! Let us go and take her!”

“Get these kids out of here!!!” the mean Jenny screeched.

“Goth? Gothor…” Gothorita suddenly turned towards the group of children and cupped her hands, forming a Shadow Ball attack.

“Stop! Don't move!” the mean Jenny warned Gothorita, waving her gun at the Pokemon threateningly.

“Gothorita… Goth…” Gothorita was glaring at the children, ready to attack them with Shadow Ball!

My mouth dropped open as I watched Gothorita, not believing what she was about to do.

The officers near the kids all stood up and stared in disbelief at the Pokemon, the other adults clutching the kids in their arms even tighter, staring at Gothorita in fear.

“STOP RIGHT NOW OR I WILL SHOOT!!!” Officer Jenny bellowed.

“Pleh!!” I spit out a wad of spit at the officer ready to shoot Gothorita.

“RITA!!” Gothorita ignored Officer Jenny and tossed the Shadow Ball at the group of kids.

BANG!!!

The mean Jenny screamed as my spit wad landed on her face.

The Shadow Ball flew through the air.

“Dusk…” A Duskull appeared from out of nowhere! “Duuuuusk…!” The Pokemon cried out as the Shadow Ball smacked it in the head. The Pokemon dropped to the ground.

“That's him!! That's the Duskull!!” June burst out shrilly. “Gothorita stopped him!”

“Gothorita!” Gothorita ran forward and stopped a few feet away from Duskull.

I noticed a tiny hole in the ground just a couple of feet from where Gothorita had been standing just a moment ago. My head turned quickly to the mean Jenny who was wiping at the side of her face with one hand, her mouth wide as she stared wide eyed at Gothorita and Duskull, her gun in her other hand. Gothorita's okay, I sighed with relief. Jenny missed her shot.

“Gothorita!” Gothorita grabbed my attention as she charged up another Shadow Ball.

The screaming kids and adults were ushered out of the way by the officers as Duskull floated up in the air.

“Goth!” Gothorita tossed another Shadow Ball.

“Duskull…” Duskull floated above the attack and it crashed into the trees behind him.

With a furious look, Gothorita prepared another Shadow Ball.

“Duskull…”

A shadow slid from underneath Duskull, darker than the night sky above, and stretched out to Gothorita, sliding underneath her. A large claw reached up from the shadow and slashed Gothorita from behind.

“Gothoritaaaaa!!” Gothorita dropped to the ground as the shadow disappeared.

“Duskull…” Duskull's body glowed purple and pink, his eyes flashing with pink repeatedly. Multiple crimson rings flew out from his body and hit Gothorita before she could even start to get up.

Gothorita's body was outlined in purple and she screamed out in pain.

“It's Night Shade!” June finally broke free from the officer holding her and she stepped forward.

I then pulled my arms free from the officer holding me as well and kept my eyes on the battle.

Gothorita fell.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“Gothorita!” I called out to her.

She shook her head and lifted it, glaring at Duskull.

Duskull cupped his hands and they were surrounded by light blue fireballs spinning around them, a larger light blue fireball in the middle of his hands. One by one, the fireballs spinning around his hands fired out at Gothorita.

“Now he's using Will-O-Wisp!” June informed us all.

Gothorita scrambled on her hands and knees away from the first fireball and leaped out of the way of the following flames.

Both Pokemon were glaring at each other now, Gothorita looking visibly more tired than her opponent. She closed her eyes and her body was outlined in light blue. She didn't move a muscle.

Everyone was looking at her silently.

Her eyes finally opened after a moment and the glow faded from her body, but nothing happened.

I cocked my head in confusion. Something seemed familiar about what she had just done, but I couldn't quite place what it was.

“Dusk…” Duskull cupped his hands again and a small, golden orb appeared in them. It started to grow immediately, and he tossed it at Gothorita.

The orb grew a little larger and suddenly split several times, becoming several small golden orbs that flew towards Gothorita.

“Goth!” Gothorita took a nervous step back.

The orbs clung to Gothorita's body and enlarged immediately. They all connected and became one huge orb, covering the Pokemon, and then the orb exploded.

Gothorita's eyes were now glowing red as she displayed Confusion, stumbling about.

“Confuse Ray got her!” I realized.

“Goth! Goth! Goth!” Gothorita tossed repeated Shadow Balls lazily at Duskull without aiming.

Duskull easily dodged the Confused Pokemon's attacks.

“Goth!” Gothorita fired a Psybeam from her eyes as Duskull flew above her last Shadow Ball, and he was hit, flying back from the strength of the Psybeam.

Duskull shook his head from the impact, but he seemed ready for more.

“Gothoritaaaa!” Gothorita was using Psybeam repeatedly, but her attacks were missing Duskull entirely as they collided with trees, the ground, and disappeared in the air. She was still stumbling about dizzily, and finally, she crashed into a tree. “Goth…” Gothorita moaned weakly as she fell to the ground.

“Duskull…” The Ghost Pokemon used another Shadow Sneak.

Gothorita wailed painfully as she slid along the ground after being swiped at by the ghostly phantom that appeared from the shadow that slid underneath her.

“Gothorita! You can win!” Theodore exclaimed, stepping past the adult in front of him. A policeman grabbed Theodore's shoulder to hold him back, but Theodore struggled free and stepped closer to Gothorita. “Gothorita! Don't give up! I know you can do it! Please, don't lose!”

“Gothorita! Come on!” a girl called out.

“Gothorita, fight back! You can't lose!” one of the boys joined in.

“Get up, Gothoritaaaaaaa!!” one boy screamed.

The kids were all cheering for Gothorita to wake up and fight. They were all encouraging her to win, calling out her name and yelling out their support.

“Duskull…” Duskull cupped his hands and prepared a Shadow Ball attack.

“Gothoritaaaa!!” Polly shrieked.

“Theodore!” I called out as I watched the child run in front of Gothorita.

“NO!” Theodore shouted at Duskull, opening his arms, looking angrily at Duskull. “You won't hurt my friend!”

Before I could charge into the Shadow Ball that Duskull mercilessly threw at the child.

Before the officers were able to make a move.

Before Theodore's friends could scream in terror.

Before the other adults could call out to him.

Before June and Courtney could even gasp in shock together.

“Gothorita!” The red in Gothorita’s eyes vanished as she leaped forward and tackled Theodore down, forcing the child onto his stomach as she covered his back with her body, and she raised her hands into the air towards the Shadow Ball. “Gothorita!” A turquoise shield appeared in front of the two and the Shadow Ball collided with the Protect attack, disappearing on contact.

Several sighs of relief flew through the air as the Protect faded.

A light wind blew through the area as we all watched Duskull, Gothorita, and Theodore.

Theodore lifted his head and looked at Gothorita. “Gothorita?”

Suddenly, a multicolored beam flew down from the sky and collided with Duskull, slamming the Ghost Pokemon into the ground, raising a cloud of dirt into the air around him.

“Whoa!” I gasped. “Oh! Wait! Future Sight! That was what she did!”

As the dust cleared, everyone gasped as we slowly began to realize that Duskull was hovering in the air.

“He's still up,” I growled in a low voice.

“Gothorita!” Gothorita got off of Theodore's back and charged angrily at Duskull.

“Dusk…” Duskull watched Gothorita.

Gothorita vanished and then reappeared right underneath Duskull. She leaped high and uppercut the Ghost type with Feint Attack.

Duskull tumbled backwards through the air.

“That's the way to do it!” I cheered. “Yes!”

The kids started clapping and jumping around.

Even the parents seemed to be lured in by the battle as they murmured excitedly, watching with attentive eyes.

Duskull suddenly flew forward and slammed into Gothorita.

“Goth! Goth! Gothorita…” Gothorita bounced along the ground a couple of times before sliding to a stop, groaning.

“Gothorita!” Theodore ran over to the exhausted Pokemon. He placed his hands on her shoulders and shook her. “Hey! Get up! Gothorita!”

Gothorita moaned but didn't move, shivering on the ground.

“Payback attack!” June stated. “Oh, no!”

Duskull was looking shaky, but he was still moving around.

Gothorita was facedown, her body twitching slightly.

“Duskull…” Duskull floated over to Gothorita slowly, his body looking weak and tired.

I grit my teeth angrily as I watched the Ghost produce a Shadow Ball attack, staring at his worn out opponent.

Theodore turned to face Duskull, fear on his face as he began to tremble.

“Dusk…” Duskull pulled his hands back to fling the ball.

Gothorita looked up weakly at Duskull and sighed in defeat as her head dropped.

I grabbed Excadrill's Poke Ball. Oh, no, you don't! I thought angrily, and I pulled back my arm.

“Yaaah!!”

A Poke Ball appeared from out of nowhere and smacked Duskull right in the head.

“Dusk…!”

The Poke Ball opened and a red beam pulled Duskull inside. It hit the ground and started shaking, the red button in the middle glowing.

It shook.

It shook again really hard.

PING!

The red light faded to white, and we all stared silently at the Poke Ball.

I lowered Excadrill's Poke Ball and turned around, first staring at June.

She was looking around in confusion.

I then turned to Courtney.

Courtney was already looking back at me and she shrugged her shoulders as our eyes met.

My ears picked up the sound of footsteps and I turned around to see Mrs. Démarche walk past me and approach the Poke Ball. She bent over and picked it up, turning it around in her hand. Her mouth opened to let out a sigh. “Well, I guess I have a present for my husband when he gets back into town. I don't think he owns one of these. He should enjoy taming it.”

All eyes were stuck on Mrs. Démarche.

Even Gothorita had managed to lift her head up and stare at her.

Mrs. Démarche's eyes widened as she looked around, realizing that everyone was looking at her. “Huh?”

The kids immediately screamed with delight and ran towards their teacher, jumping in front of her and covering her legs in hugs.

The teacher knelt down and pulled her students in for a hug as well, laughing. “I'm so glad you all are okay. I missed you guys so, so much! Oh, this will be such wonderful news for the parents who went home. Oh, you guys are just too much! I love you all, too!”

I smiled broadly at the kids with their teacher, and then turned as I saw someone get closer to me from out the corner of my eye.

June had her hand over her chest, staring down at the children, smiling warmly at them.

Something nudged me from my other side and I turned to see Courtney.

She winked at me and smiled.

I smiled back nervously and looked back to the kids.

Theodore suddenly backed away from Mrs. Démarche and ran to Gothorita. “Gothorita!”

The other kids turned around and quickly ran to their friend, crying out their concerns. They helped her to her feet and then cheered, grateful that she was alright.

“Goth… Gothorita!” Gothorita smiled at the children.

Mrs. Démarche stood up and walked over to Gothorita. She got down to her knees in front of the Pokemon and smiled warmly. “Gothorita, my name is Mrs. Démarche, the teacher for these students at the school in this town,” she introduced herself. “I hear that you don't really have any friends where you live.”

“Gothorita…” Gothorita shook her head, staring at Mrs. Démarche with wide eyes.

“You seem to have taken to the children, though,” Mrs. Démarche nodded back at her.

“Goth! Gothorita!” Gothorita responded.

“Well, if you'd like, maybe we could work out something,” Mrs. Démarche offered. “You could become something along the lines of the class pet, if you will. You could be with the kids during school hours, and maybe, every week, a different child could take you home for a week, or something. Considering what's happened here, I really don't think that it'd be a problem with the school or the parents. But, it's up to you. How does that sound?”

“Gothorita! Gothorita! Gothorita!” Gothorita agreed with delight.

“Gothorita! Gothorita! Gothorita! Gothorita! Gothorita!” the kids began to chant.

“Gothorita! Gothorita!” Gothorita laughed.

The kids all laughed with her and went wild.

Theodore turned to June and ran up to her, hugging her leg, pressing the side of his face against it tightly. “Miss June, thank you! You were right all along! Everything's okay, now!”

The other kids, along with Gothorita, ran over to June and bounced in front of her, thanking her.

Soon, the parents, the teachers, and all of the police officers had surrounded the three of us, apologizing repeatedly.

The mean Jenny even bowed in front of us and saluted our work, saying we were welcome back anytime. She humbly apologized the most out of anyone else.

*

“I'm still not convinced you can read Pokemon. Sorry,” Courtney said nonchalantly.

“How in the world can you be so stupid?” June screamed. “I mean, I practically resolved the issue there!”

“No, you didn't,” Courtney stated. “You told them some crap that almost got Gothorita, me, Gary, and yourself in even more trouble. The battle between Duskull and Gothorita sorted everything out. You didn't do anything at all.”

“I got the kids home safely and communicated with Gothorita!”

“The three of us got the kids back home, first of all. Secondly, I didn't really see any communication between you and Gothorita at all. I can speak to Pokemon, if that’s the case.”

“What?!” June looked ready to start swinging fists.

“You heard me. Just because Pokemon can understand human speech in a lot of cases, and humans can, at times, get the gist of Pokemon language, doesn't mean you're some freaking… I dunno… You're not special, June! Get over it!”

June grunted angrily and shoved Courtney to the ground.

“Ow!” Courtney glared up at June.

“June! Really??” I stared at her in surprise. “I really expected better than that of you! What is wrong with you?” I reached out a hand and helped Courtney to her feet.

“Didn't you hear what she said?” June’s eyes looked ready to tear up.

“That's not a reason to freaking shove people, June! You're freaking nuts, you know that? Come on, now!”

Courtney was standing up, but her hand was still in my hold, her other hand wrapped around my wrist.

I shook my hand a little, trying to free it from her, but Courtney was actually holding on to me. I turned to her and looked down at her hands.

She smiled and winked at me before slowly sliding her hands off of me.

I was taken back by this action, but I decided to ignore it as I turned back to June.

She was opening and closing her fists, glaring at Courtney, baring her teeth.

“Alright, look, we have more important things to do right now, like finding the next town or city,” I told them both. “Can we please focus on that? We can discuss the rest of this nonsense later. Please, you two!” These two were really stressing me out!

Both girls huffed and turned their backs on each other.

Sighing, I shook my head and pulled out my Town Map. “Looks like we… Oh, wait. What town were we in again?”

June shrugged. “I dunno,” she mumbled quickly, moodily.

“I don't know,” Courtney grunted, shrugging.

“Didn't one of those people tell us the name of the town when we were there?” I exclaimed frantically.

“I dunno,” June repeated, shrugging.

“Probably,” Courtney muttered, shrugging.

“Fine, so we're lost! Great,” I snapped. “At least everybody cares!”

“Let's just go back to the town and find out,” June suggested.

“June, we left there hours ago and still haven't come across civilization, yet!” I argued. “I don’t want to walk all that way back, again!” I looked up at the blue sky, the sun hiding behind one of the numerous clouds.

“It's not that far of a walk…” June said in a low voice.

“Then how about you go back there yourself?” Courtney asked in her own low voice.

“Courtney, this is your last warning before I kick your stupid ass through a tree, do you hear me?” June threatened.

“Oh, keep your weave in,” Courtney shot back, snickering. “How about we just find a wild Sewaddle and you can just ask it for directions.” She stuck her tongue out at June.

“I'll rip that slimy thing from your throat! I DO NOT WEAR A WEAVE!!!!” June shrieked as she leaped at Courtney.

I stepped in between them and wrapped my arms around June's waist, hoisting her over my shoulder and carrying her away from Courtney.

“Let me at her!! I swear it!! I freaking swear!!” June was going insane.

“June! Leave her alone! I am not dealing with this anymore!!” My voice was getting hoarse and it was hurting to scream. “I've had enough already!!”

“Then tell her to go! Why is she even here, Gary?” June demanded as she struggled out of my grip and backed up a few feet, adjusting her jacket. “She has no business here! We've never been friends before! Ever! Why is she with us now?”

“Well, if you find me a threat or something, I can leave,” Courtney shrugged, turning her back on us. “I told you I have a boyfriend already, but if you still think I'm stealing Gary away from you, goodbye, then.”

“Oh, just cut it out already you little prick!” June raged. “What do you really want from us? You're nothing but a liar and always have been one! I don't believe anything you have to say and I never will!”

Courtney turned to June with a smirk and snickered.

“You've never been of any use to any of us, and have been nothing but a constant pain!” June continued, letting out all she had to say. “Since the day we met you, you've always tried to lead us astray, and nearly got me killed and almost made Gary miss the Pokemon League!”

“Now, now, I didn't-” Courtney started.

June stomped over to Courtney, but I blocked her path. “SHUT UP!!!” June's voice was so high and shrill, the birds in the area flew from the treetops, and even I jumped at the sound.

Courtney went silent and her eyes widened.

“You always get yours, though, don't you?” June told her, her voice getting lower, yet still maintaining its fury. “You didn't beat Gary in that competition you both took place in, you lost to Robin at the League, and you still remain a snotty, wretched little troll. Pitiful! It's no wonder you travel alone. Who in the hell would want to be around you? Of course, I'm sure your stupid, pink hair you had back in Kanto was the first roadblock that prevented anyone from wanting to travel with you. Who wants to travel with a weirdo with pink hair, anyway? You're not Nurse Joy, honey. You can't pull off that look. You looked like a stupid, ugly clown. And now your hair is blonde? Was that supposed to attract people to you better? Wrong! You're still an ugly, sickening, pathetic waste of flesh, bones, and organs, no matter the hair color, and that's all you'll ever be! A liar, extremely stupid, and ugly both on the outside and the inside! Maybe if you were a nicer person, you'd be a bit more attractive! But, no! You're ugly interior is displayed by that gruesome exterior perfectly!” June was huffing angrily now, her eyes locked on Courtney. “And your wardrobe sucks, too! I hate your stupid glasses!” June swallowed and breathed shakily.

I was shaking, afraid to even look at June, let alone Courtney, and I kept my eyes down. It wasn't long before I heard the whimpering behind me. I swallowed and looked up at June.

She continued glaring at Courtney.

A loud wail came from Courtney. I turned around as Courtney turned away and ran.

“Finally,” June muttered.

“Courtney!” I ran after her.

“Gary?” June gasped.

Courtney was fast, but I got to her soon enough and grabbed her shoulders, turning her around to me.

“Get off of me!! Get away from me, Gary!!” Courtney cried hysterically, swinging her arms at me frantically. She tried yelling at me some more, but she was crying too hard to form words, tears flowing down her cheeks.

“No!” I said strongly, staring at her firmly, and I pulled her into a hug and held her tightly. It was a reflex to inhale deeply as I held Courtney, and I took in the sweet aroma from her hair that was starting to drive me crazy as I wondered for just a second exactly what that incredible scent was. “It's okay. Just stop crying. Please.” I suddenly realized that Courtney had gone completely silent.

June's hurried footsteps approached us and she gasped as she saw us. “Gary, what are you doing?”

“June, I'm only saying this one time,” I warned her, not looking over to her. “I'm sick of the damn fighting. If you two get into one more skirmish, I am out! I am through with the both of you! I'm sick of you both fighting all the time! First it's you, then it's her, then it's you, then it's her. Just… Enough! I'm not here for this, June!” I turned my head to her with a desperate look, feeling exhausted over all of this. “Please! You two are driving me mad! I'm freaking begging here!”

June stared at me silently, awe on her face. “Gary… I'm so sorry.” She lowered her eyes. “But…” She looked up at Courtney.

Courtney gently tried to free herself from me, and I released her. She kept her head down, refusing to look up. Sniffling as she wiped her cheeks, she turned around. “I'll go…” she whispered weakly. “I'm sorry… Goodbye, Gary. Goodbye, June.” She sniffled hard and walked away.

I watched her sadly. I felt bad about all of this. This just didn't feel right.

Courtney stopped walking and dropped to her knees. “I'm so sorry for my ugliness!” she sobbed, covering her face. “I wish I looked like you, June! I…” She continued to cry painfully.

The sound of her loud crying was bringing tears to my eyes, my heart hurting to see Courtney in this state that I'd never seen her in before. I turned to June with hardened eyes, shaking my head.

June looked away, trying to hide a face filled with regret.

I walked over to Courtney and knelt down in the grass next to her. My hand touched her back and I rubbed her slowly. “Courtney, please. June didn't mean that stuff.” I turned to June angrily. “Right?”

June looked up into the sky and sighed angrily. “Yeah, you're not ugly, Courtney. Geez.”

I accepted that and looked back at Courtney.

She shook her head and wiped at her wet face. “I know I am. I know I'm a horrible person. I'm so sorry to the both of you. I don't have any reason to be here, causing you two stress and anguish. Excuse me, please.” She got to her feet and dusted off her jeans. Her hand reached out to me. I took it and she pulled me to my feet, refusing to look at me, her teary eyes on the ground. “I'll just be on my way.” Courtney turned to June and smiled shakily, and then she looked away and snorted loudly before sniffling again. She sighed, lowering her head. “Good luck in the Unova League, Gary.” She walked away from us.

“Hey, Courtney!” I called out to her.

She stopped at the sound of my voice, but she didn't turn around.

“Courtney, would you like to, maybe, accompany me to the Unova League?” I asked hesitantly, my heart beating sharply.

“What?” Courtney gasped.

“WHAT?!?!?!” June bellowed.

“Well, I was thinking that I wouldn't mind having you join me…” I turned to June and exchanged her mortified look with my angry glance before turning back to Courtney. “…and June… to the Unova League. You and I could get our remaining Badges together, you know? It might be fun. I just think we need to put an end to all of this bad blood between us, and especially between you two, and move forward. What happened in Kanto is done with. That's how I want it to be. A clean slate, you know?”

Courtney turned around happily and let out a thrilled squeal. “Are you serious? You mean that? You want me?” she gushed.

My eyes widened. “Um… To travel with us… Yeah…” I replied nervously.

Courtney laughed. “How many times do I have to say it, Sugar Lumps? I have a boyfriend already! Me and Andrew have been together for nearly four years! Ever since we were twelve years old, ha!”

“You're… sixteen?” I asked her slowly. I tried to ease the tone of my voice and not sound as if I was surprised because I thought she was older, which I did. I thought she was at least twenty.

“Yeah,” Courtney said. “How old did you think I was?”

“Uh… Like… Fourteen…?” I lied.

“Ha ha ha, that's funny!” Courtney laughed. “I'm sixteen! How about you?”

“I'm thirteen,” I answered.

“And you, June?” Courtney asked her with a smile.

June shot her a dirty look, but she caught my glare, too, and sighed, her angry eyes lowering. “Sixteen,” she mumbled.

Courtney gasped. “Hey! We're the same age! When's your birthday? Mine is November 1st!”

“December 31st.”

“Whaaaaaaat?! Are you serious?”

June nodded angrily.

“Wow! Right before New Year's, a bit after Christmas! That must be present heaven for you!”

“Yeah,” June grumbled.

Courtney sighed, her shoulders slumping. “I can take a hint. I know there's still a bit of animosity between us, I guess. I'm sorry for pretending like everything's okay, now.” She turned to me sadly. “Gary, thanks for the invite, seriously, but I can't. I don't want to make things awkward for any of us. I just want us to be friends. Thanks again, though.” She turned away from me.

I grabbed her shoulder. “This will take time, Courtney,” I said firmly. “This isn't gonna happen overnight. But it's also not gonna happen if we walk away from it. If you'd like to stay, you have a spot with June and I, okay? How about it? Give it a shot. I'm sure we'll all get along great if we try.”

Courtney and I both turned to June, who was eyeing Courtney suspiciously. We both looked at each other again.

Courtney smiled. “Okay, I'll give it a shot, Gary!” Her eyes glimmered excitedly.

I heard June suck her teeth, but not another sound came from her.

My eyes were glued on Courtney's beautiful, cheerful face, and I smiled back. “Welcome, Courtney.”

“Oh, Gary!” She pulled me into a hug.

I hugged her back, returning June’s glare with a bland look of my own, not entirely convinced that what I had just done was the right thing to do, or what I really wanted.

I pushed the concern in my head away and kept my eyes on June’s.

My heart was beating rapidly from a mix of fear from June’s enraged face.

Worry for what I had just allowed.

And a confusing thrill from holding Courtney, and her holding me back.

All the while.

Secretly captivated by the magical scent in Courtney’s hair.