“Gary, you’re doing quite wonderfully,” Prof. Cynthia said. “You have some great new Pokemon, so please feel free to transfer as needed. And please let me know what you come upon in Canalave City.”

Despite being a lot, lot older than him, Gary couldn’t help checking out such a beautiful woman. From her black, button up shirt, Gary could see some of her pale skin between a couple of buttons. As he nodded and smiled, rubbing at his face shyly and lowering his face, he wondered how good his attempts to hide what he was secretly doing were. “I will, and thanks again for all you’re doing, Prof. Cynthia,” Gary told her, returning his gaze to her only revealed eye, the other one hidden behind her long, flowing, dull-blonde hair with silver streaks. “I’m gonna need to call Prof. Sketchit to see what’s up with my other Pokemon.”

“Yes, and let me know how they are doing, too!” Prof. Cynthia’s eye closed with pleasure.

“Will do! Speak to you soon!”

The screen went blue and after that, Gary held the receiver and punched in a different number. He held the receiver to his ear, listening to the ringing.

It wasn’t long before the screen revealed...Kiwi! From behind her glasses with a blue tint on the lenses, she stared out blandly. “So you’re back. Congratulations.”

“Uh... For...? Wait...”

“Yes?” Kiwi stared at Gary.

“You saw me on Sinnoh Now...?”

“Yes.”

“Already?”

“Yes.”

“But I just did the interview!”

“And I just saw it.”

Gary sighed impatiently. Kiwi was always a bit of a smart-mouth, but Gary wasn’t used to such monotone sass from her.

“Anyway, that must have been a tough match. What did you use?”

“Uuuuh... Weeellll...” Gary thought out loud. “I had my... Scizor, Fashioned. My Dustox and then... an Electivire.” Gary hoped Kiwi wouldn’t press on any further.

Kiwi stared at Gary and blinked once. “Interesting,” was all she said.

“Yeah,” Gary said quickly before Kiwi could continue. “Hey, I have some questions, man. You hung up on me before I could even ask! What’s up with my Pokemon? How’s Charizard, Ivysaur, Weepinbell, Dugtrio, and Kingdra?”

Kiwi nodded. “Actually, me and Prof. Sketchit are just finishing some tests. They’re mostly all fine, but Charizard did take a lot more damage. He’s also very stubborn, just like you. He wants to get back to you and we’re trying to let him know that the more difficult he makes things, the longer it’s gonna take to get back to you. But he doesn’t listen. Just like you.”

Gary sucked his teeth and frowned at her, huffing out angrily.

“Not to worry. By the time you get to your next Gym, I suspect we’ll have them all transfered over to Prof. Cynthia for ya.”

Gary finally smiled. “That’s great! How is Prof. Sketchit? I never see him anymore.”

“If I weren’t here, you wouldn’t get your calls answered,” Kiwi replied. “He’s busier than ever, you know.”

Gary kept quiet, feeling tears build up in his eyes.

“Any word on the monster? Or June?” Kiwi asked.

Gary’s eyes widened and he put away his tears. He shook his head sharply. “No, nothing...”

“I’m sorry, Gary.”

He just nodded. “Yeah.”

“I didn’t ask about it the last time you called. I was trying to read your situation, first. How you were doing. I’m sure you’ve been pummeled with enough about her, and your own stresses. I didn’t want to add anything to such a sensitive matter.”

“I understand. That’s really appreciated, Kiwi,” Gary nodded before lowering his eyes, the topic dropping with them. There was nothing more for him to say about it. But he was curious about something else. “Say, how’s my little buddy Barboach doing?”

Kiwi nodded. “Barboach is doing well. She’s in great care. Don’t worry.”

“I know she’s in the best care possible. As always.” Gary managed a little smile.

Kiwi didn’t, staring back at him. “Keep an eye out for your friend in Sinnoh. There’s something that might be of interest for you to look into concerning Prof. Oak.”

Gary was startled, literally jumping in his seat with surprise. “What did you just say??”

“I’m not saying you have to look into it, but I feel like... you’re just the most capable of the three of you guys. Just something Prof. Oak was looking into, with some other professors.”

“Kiwi, what are you talking about?” Gary demanded. “What friend in Sinnoh? What do you mean, ‘something Prof. Oak was looking into’?”

“When you find out, let me know.”

The call disconnected, and the screen went blue.

Gary’s mouth hung open as he stared at the screen for a bit. He then stared at the receiver, considering calling her back, but instead hung up the phone with some confusion, the screen then turning black. “Why is Kiwi so weird nowadays...?” Gary whispered. “Like, this is just too much. Someone is looking for me with information on Prof. Oak? A friend of mine? I don’t even know anyone in Sinnoh.” He thought for a moment in silence. “And since when does she wear glasses?” He sucked his teeth. “Come on, Raichu.” Gary walked away from the phone with the Electric Mouse Pokemon behind him, trying hard not to stare at the people stuffed in the crowded Pokemon Center as he exited. He’d answered so many repeated questions between the Sinnoh Now news crew, and just random people in general after being the one to stop Jupiter’s nearly seven-year win streak, and was ready for some sleep, finally.

“I WON THE NEW POKETCH-XYZ! I WON! I WON! I WON! I WON!” a random woman was screaming happily at the top of her lungs as she ran by Gary, a small group of screaming, cheering people running after her.

“Whoa,” Gary muttered, staring after them. He looked around and saw the tall Pokemon. He got closer to him and nodded. “Hey.”

Electivire, holding the strap of June’s bag around one shoulder, growled and then let out a grunt.

“You haven’t been zapping people, have you?” Gary looked around, but he didn’t see any disoriented or incapacitated people. Electivire’s horns sparked, making Gary jump and turn to him. “Hey, come on! What’s up, yo?”

“Raichu Rai!” Raichu pleaded, waving his paws at Electivire.

Electivire stopped sparking and pointed ahead. “Vire Vire!” He then crossed his bandaged arms and huffed.

Gary didn’t understand, and his face showed this. “Listen, I let you eat and recover and everything. I wanna know why you jumped into my match, and then just left when it was over.”

Electivire punched his fists together creating sparks and started speaking unintelligibly.

“I dunno what that means, but we’ve gotta get on better terms. You’re not even my Pokemon! We’ll find June. I know she must be fine. But you can’t leap into my personal matches. You know how awkward I feel with this new Badge?”

“EEEELECTIVIIIIIRRRE!!” Electivire roared in Gary’s face.

Gary fell over as if he had been shoved, even though the Pokemon hadn’t laid a finger on him. He leered at Electivire and swallowed hard. “I don’t know how June put up with you!” He got to his feet. “I’ll tell ya-” Gary held his tongue, not wanting to say anything regrettable. The situation wasn’t that bad. There was no need to say the wrong thing. He’s just a little stubborn, Gary told himself. He’s not a bad Pokemon. He just needs time. But... “There’s just no reason to behave like this, Electivire. June’s done everything for you. If you were just mad because June was gone, this might be okay, acting up with me; but you treat her just the same. You must know she’s sorry for evolving you when you weren’t ready. She’s told you a hundred times! You don’t have to be... such a jerk about it!” Gary tried to hold back but his last words slipped out.

Electivire had a hardened face for Gary.

Gary sighed. “Just... Oh, forget it.” He shook his head. “Just stay out of my Gym matches! Now let’s go. I need some sleep.” He led the way through the city, walking along a concrete path lined by trees and lit up lamp poles under a night sky. Not checking to see if the Pokemon were following him, Gary removed his bag from his shoulders. Exiting Jubilife City, he walked through a wide plain of grass and trees, a couple of exceptionally tall pine trees in the field, and continued through, disappearing into the mix. He settled down after a while and crossed his legs, placing his backpack in his lap. After unzipping it, he pulled out his Badge case and opened it.

He stared at the Infiltration Badge and shook his head. His eyes then ended up on the Phobia Badge. He blinked and then ran his thumb over the Badge that was an eyeball with an enlarged pupil.

Cas’ bottom lip reacted to Gary’s thumb and went down with the pressure.

Gary blinked, staring at the Badge, and then sighed a very long sigh. Why am I so obsessed with her? She’s haunting! Gary snickered before he even knew he had been smiling. He set the case down beside him. Falling out onto his back, his arms outstretched, he let out a laugh, staring at the stars above. “I guess witches really do exist, huh? She must have had me under some kind of spell, but I think it’s wearing off. I’ll be just fi-” He sat up at a rustling sound.

The noise stopped, and there was only silence.

“Electivire?” Gary asked. “Raichu?”

There was no response.

Gary waited.

A noise started up again, but from further ahead, and then another sound started up that was closer.

Gary got on his knees and looked around him, not sure what was going on. He scooped up a Poke Ball. “Who’s out there?” he called.

Noises got closer, louder, and then something burst onto the scene! “Raichu!” Raichu ran up to Gary and stopped beside him. “Raichu!”

After this, Electivire strolled in, carrying June’s bag. He tossed it at Gary.

Gary grunted in pain as he was knocked down.

Electivire walked past him and Raichu. He yelled out and swung a Thunder Punch at a tree, rocking it hard and causing leaves and branches to fall out of it.

Little critters scampered and flew away as they were disrupted from their peace.

Electivire got deeper into the woods, causing a ruckus, making his presence known.

Gary pushed June’s bag off of him and just shook his head, looking after where Electivire had vanished, but hearing his rage clearly. He then looked around him carefully, peering through the trees and grass. “Hmm.” I need some sleep. Electivire can do whatever, Gary thought. He turned to Raichu.

Raichu was already staring back, concern on his face.

*

The monster’s fat tongue slipped around in her open mouth, moving along her broken teeth. She raised a black hand holding a ball resembling a Poke Ball, but the top half was blue-gray, the bottom half pale-green. She pulled back her arm and her long fingers released the ball as she hurled it at June.

June gasped and took a step back.

The ball hit her and hovered in the air before opening and an orange beam came out, hitting June and making her glow orange.

She screamed out in agony and slowly was forced to her knees. “G-G-G... Gary,” she choked out, gasping, reaching out for him. Her face was pure pain, her eyes bulging, her mouth looking ready to hurl out something horrible.

The ball closed and hit the ground, releasing June from her glowing torture.

The monster then charged at June with a roar. As June started to fall forward, the creature sliced one sharp hand upward, her broken, jagged nails ripping through June’s head, slicing upward through her chin, up and through her cheeks, through her eyes, and up out of her head, blood splattering sickeningly everywhere.

June’s head was left shredded like cheese or meat from a deli, and her body collapsed lifelessly.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!” Gary sat screaming as loud as he could. He screamed as there were calls, shouts, caws, and movements all around. “HEEEEEEEEEELP!!!!” He struggled with an unseen assailant, but he collapsed to his back as he realized what it was, and he started to remember where he was. Gary was just trapped in his sleeping bag. In the middle of the woods. There was a rustling and Gary sat back up quickly and turned.

Electivire stood there.

The two had nothing to say to each other.

Electivire then grunted and sat down next to June’s bag. He crossed his legs and rested his hands on his knees, his eyes closed.

Gary breathed out tiredly, trying to calm his heart, and he fell to his back in exhaustion. Closing his eyes, he whispered, “June...”

*

“I’m sorry, you want to enter?” a young guy in a black suit and tie questioned Gary. His eyes shot around the lobby before looking back at Gary, but they wouldn’t keep still.

This made Gary uncomfortable. “Uh... Yeah...?” Gary looked around while talking, but didn’t see anything but a couple of bookshelves full of books, a few pots with tall plants in them, two large, white tables with wooden chairs, and a gray carpet designed into squared sections going back and forth between light gray and dark gray.

Aside from the concierge and Gary, the lobby had no people.

“And you were invited?” the man kept darting his eyes around, disbelief worn on his face.

“Yes...? Is there a problem?”

“Well if you were invited, I guess not,” he shrugged.

“Okay, so can I see him?” Gary eyed the gold nametag on his shirt that read Roger.

“Go ahead. 2B,” Roger said briefly.

Gary nodded and looked around. “Thanks,” he mumbled, spotting the elevators. He walked over to the two and pressed a silver button that was above another, causing a tiny glass middle to glow white.

The glow turned off when a couple of light dings went off by an elevator. A white, protruding circle over the elevator was blinking brightly over another circle beneath it for a couple of turns before staying on. The circle below never flashed. The doors slid open silently, revealing a wooden interior, the walls glowing similar to gold. The floor was carpeted black, the word Jubilife in yellow.

Gary stepped inside. “2B,” he said to himself, hitting one of a set of buttons on a silver panel.

The doors closed easily.

Gary found that the ride, while short, was also longer than he expected considering he only went up one stop. When he arrived, the doors opened with a couple of chimes, and he stepped out.

And screamed at the top of his lungs!

Rats! Huge, black, nasty, scurrying rats were running and bouncing and rolling along the floor!

“Rats!!” Gary watched, panicked about the gross things.

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On the landing of the second floor were scampering rats, and a huge black beast the size of a dog in the mix of them all!

Yelling in his head to leap back into the elevator did nothing towards actually getting back in. Gary was petrified at the sight and imagining that the critters had already gotten into the elevator! He wanted to look back, but was too frightened to take his eyes off the rats in front of him! This is so disgusting! There’s rats here?? Gary thought, sickened to his stomach. Filthy! They’re so huge!

And then, a Poke Ball flew through the air and a rat was hit, being pulled inside!

Gary gasped in disbelief.

The remaining creatures scattered, moving collectively to where the landing ended at a white wall with a huge, golden number 2 on it.

Someone also stood at the wall, watching as the rats split up into two separate directions to the left or right, disappearing down the hallways.

Gary’s eyes widened at the guy standing there. “Rob...?” he uttered shakily.

The Poke Ball let out a PING! It then glowed brightly, dissipating away.

“Rob! What’s-?”

“Ssshhh!” Robin, standing at the wall, angrily put a finger to his lips. He then waved a hand over, smiling.

Gary looked around cautiously before making his way over to his friend.

Robin then winked and started creeping across a beige carpet to the left, past brown door after brown door.

The hallways were completely empty, the rats nowhere in sight.

“Rob, what’s going on here?” Gary asked shakily.

Robin snickered. “Aaah, I guess you’re confused right now, huh? Come on, then. Back to my room. But keep quiet. I’ll fill you in, pal.” He looked back and winked.

Gary smirked slightly, struggling to keep his legs from quaking as he quickly followed Robin.

Robin stopped at the second to last door and stopped. Facing Gary again made his eyes widen. “Gary? You look totally freaked, dude,” he spoke lowly. With a light chuckle, he added, “You’ve gotta take it easy. Ben’s friendly.”

“Ben?” Gary replied.

“The Raticate. It’s what I’ve nicknamed him.”

“Raticate? What Raticate?” Gary asked.

“Ha, ha. You just saw them,” Robin answered quietly. “All those Rattata and the big guy, Raticate.”

“Wait a second! Those were Rattata and Raticate??” Gary burst out.

“Ssh!” Robin frowned, raising a finger. “You’ll scare them away,” he then whispered.

Gary just nodded with wide eyes and got out his Pokedex. Putting it on silent mode, he read the information on two Pokemon to himself.

Rattata. The Mouse Pokemon and its evolved form, Raticate, the Mouse Pokemon. These are their Alolan forms. Both are Dark and Normal type Pokemon. These Pokemon are a threat to their environments, just like their Kantonian counterparts. Not native to Alola, Kantonian Rattata wound up there and their appearance changed while adapting to a threat. Raticate tend to control the Rattata to scourge for only the best, finest food.

They are! Gary realized, staring at the revolving 3D images of a dark Rattata and Raticate. “Another form...” he said softly before looking back to Robin, confused as ever. “Robin, what’s going on?”

“I’ll explain, but we’ve gotta keep calm so I don’t miss out before I’ve gotta leave today. This is my last chance.” He opened the door, and he and Gary walked into a pretty decently kept, but slightly messy room.

The blinds and curtains were closed, making it fairly dark inside despite the sunny day. The bed was unmade, reminding Gary of how he kept his bed back at home and how he still leaves any bed he gets the rare chance to get into while on his journey. On the floor were a few bags, both plastic and paper, all tightened shut in various ways.

“So can I talk now?” Gary asked, smiling.

“Ha ha ha ha! Take a seat while we wait!” Robin offered, waving around the room.

“Wait? For what?” Gary eyed several wooden, cushioned chairs and a sofa.

“Ben!” Robin exclaimed as he plopped on the sofa.

“The Raticate? It’s coming back?”

“Dude, he and the Rattata have scared off this entire building! It’s about to be shut down as a health hazard with all the complaints coming in! The building has tried to downplay the incident but they can’t keep it up forever. This place is history,” Robin told him.

“It’s an infestation?”

“Well, one of the chefs is from the Alola region, real far away, and does the meals for this building and apparently, Raticate from Alola have a specific preference for quality food, so chefs out there use them to check how good their food is,” Robin explained. “He brought over a couple I guess and... aha... Things seem to have gotten... uh...” Robin smiled at the ceiling and then went back to Gary. “Rated R, eh? Hee hee hee...”

“Rrrooooob,” Gary rolled his eyes, smirking in disgust. “Gross, man.”

“Anyway, they’ve taken over now and this place is on its way out. But I’ve met that Raticate, yo! Ben! I swear, he’s cool as water, dude! A quality Pokemon! I wanna catch him, but every time I throw a Poke Ball at him, a pack of Rattata show up and get in the way. After my third Ultra Ball, and one Great Ball, I just gave up and stuck with Poke Balls! But I’m running low, and this is my last day!”

“Why did you name him Ben?”

Robin’s mouth hung open as if ready to give an answer, but he remained silent for a bit. “Aha... Well, when I had first met him with MJ, my Jumpluff, he-”

There was a noise from another part of the room, startling the two boys and making them turn.

Robin held out his palm to Gary, signaling for his silence. He stood up and crept along to another area.

Gary moved after him slowly, and the two ended up at a cracked open door. Seeing a part of a faucet, he soon deduced this was a bathroom.

Robin reached the door, his arm outstretched towards it.

“Rooob...?” Gary stared warily.

Robin held up his other hand which had a Poke Ball in it, and he made it large. He then shoved the door open.

Inside, the sight was sickening.

Gary would have screamed had it been a bunch of actual rats in there and not Pokemon, though he still was close to doing so anyway.

Rattata upon Rattata were sliding, crawling, rolling, leaping, all over the bathroom floor, like a bathroom full of sewer rats!

Robin and Gary turned suddenly and yelled out at the same time, “HEY!”

It was the Alolan Raticate, Ben! He hissed at Robin and gnashed his teeth at him.

“You sure that thing’s friendly, Rob?” Gary questioned with fear.

“Totally! Ben is amazing! And strong!” Robin nodded with a huge smile, his eyes practically twinkling with joy. “POKE BALL, GO!! HA HA HA HA!!” He threw the Poke Ball.

Raticate stood still, watching the ball. Suddenly, he turned his back on the boys and ran, the Poke Ball still heading for him.

A sudden bunch of Alolan Rattata then appeared and got in the way of the Poke Ball, one of them being captured.

“Oh, come on!” Robin complained.

PING!

Letting out an aggravated groan, Robin ran after Ben.

Gary looked back to the bathroom and gasped.

The Rattata were all gone! Not a visible hair was left behind.

Gary went after Robin but only a few feet in, he stopped, seeing Robin alone and on one knee, staring at the bottom of a wall.

“They’re next door! Come on!” Robin ran out the room.

Gary stared at the bottom of the wall where a big hole was at.

It didn’t look big enough for all of those Rattata, let alone that fat Raticate, to fit through, but the truth was, all of them had vanished.

Gary ran to the door Robin had left open and looked first down the right side of the hallway, then the left, to see Robin stopped at a door and opening it easily. “Rob!” Gary went after him as Robin leaped into the room.

A second later, Gary at the door, packs of Rattata led by a Raticate poured out of the room. They overtook Gary and the boy was curled up on the floor, screaming his head off as the rats ran all over him!

PING!

“Shit!” Robin’s voice was heard.

When the stampede had ended, Gary got to his knees and rubbed at his body, feeling disgusting and dirty. “Maybe we should say goodbye and leave this place to the Pokemon,” Gary suggested. “This is disgusting!”

“Maybe I need a new approach.”

“Have you tried battling?”

“Yeah, but the Rattata just get in the way. I need a way straight to Raticate, somehow.”

There were a pair of chimes, and then footsteps as someone got off the elevator.

Gary and Robin turned to each other and then looked ahead, waiting to see who would arrive.

A man appeared, stopping at the wall. He turned to the boys. “You kids seen the rodent Pokemon?” he asked casually. This guy was tall and wearing a dark-blue jumpsuit. He held a huge black container with a hose, like what an exterminator might have.

“Who are you?” Robin asked. “Nobody’s in this building. It’s practically vacant.”

“I’m here to change that. I’m the exterminator.”

“WHAT??” Robin shouted.

The guy kneeled down and touched the floor. He seemed to scoop something up and sniffed his hand, and then made a motion like he was crumbling something up. The exterminator stood again and turned to the boys, brushing his hand against his leg. “They were here. Did you see the direction they went in?”

“I’m not telling you a thing! I thought they were done with exterminators after the last guy ran off!” Robin barked.

“He wasn’t afraid of rodents. Just Pokemon. I don’t have that problem,” the exterminator answered. “Besides,” he looked off to the side, “I won’t have much trouble getting these things.” He walked down the hallway, away from the two kids.

“NO! Don’t do it!” Robin pleaded, running after him.

Gary watched sadly. Rob... He let out his breath. It is that guy’s job, but I can’t! Not as a Pokemon Trainer! And I don’t own a Rattata. At least, I don’t think I do. I’ve caught so many Pokemon now... It’s hard keeping track. Gary ran after Robin. Maybe, he continued thinking, we can just capture all of them!

The exterminator entered a room and yelled out. “WHOA, mama!!” He then stepped right inside.

Robin burst in after him, followed by Gary.

The place was lit by sunlight from outside, the blinds and curtains wide open. The place also held several Rattata running about!

A Raticate stood glaring angrily in the back.

“BEEEEN!!” Rob dug in his pockets and came out with several different Poke Balls! He hurled them ALL into the hordes of Pokemon.

“Rob!” Gary watched in amazement as Rattata after Rattata were hit and captured one by one. He then went into his pockets and pulled out two Poke Balls of his own and tossed them.

One Rattata smacked away a ball with its tail, but another Rattata was sucked in.

PING!

“YAAA!” Robin threw a Poke Ball.

This one was headed right for Raticate.

“Rattataaaaaaa!” A remaining Rattata ran and then leaped after the Poke Ball. Its teeth flashed as it seemed to be trying to bite at the object.

There was a shout, and something black soared through the air, knocking the Poke Ball out of the way. It hit the floor and black smoke burst out of it.

Gary turned to who shouted. “HEY!!” He turned back to the smoke. “ROB!! IT’S A BOMB!!”

“WHAT??” Robin let out.

“FOR RODENTS!! WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE!!”

“BUT THE POKEMON!!” Robin inhaled deep and ran into the smoke, pulling his shirt over his face.

“I was hired for this job, not you kids! You’re messin’ with my money! I ain’t responsible for your actions!” The exterminator took off, leaving the room.

“ROOOOOOB!!” Gary knew he couldn’t leave behind his friend. He didn’t have time to think up a plan, and he ended up just taking action blindly. He pulled his shirt over his nose, inhaled lightly, and held his breath as the smell of the fumes reached him, running into the blinding smoke.

“GARY!! I NEED YOUR HELP!!” Robin was choking heavily.

Gary was even choking now, the fumes just too strong! He fell to his knees, desperate to call out, but resisting so he could reserve his breath. He reached out blindly, feeling his body weakening. His lungs were desperate to breathe, making his entire body jump in the struggle not to. His hands grabbed something furry and he took hold, pulling a hefty weight into his arms and cradling it with all he had. Unable to keep fighting against the poison, he forced himself up with the last of his breath and stumbled away from the smoke as his breath came out. Tears flowed down his face as he pleaded with his body not to inhale and found himself in the hallway, out of the room. Gary inhaled against his will, but then exhaled in shock as he was tackled to the ground by someone!

Choking, Robin was on the carpet on his side.

Raticate was in his arms!

Choking along with his friend, Gary stared into his own arms at a Rattata. “Rob,” he choked out, breathing heavily, still smelling the poison as it seeped out of the room. “We did it.”

Robin was still coughing hard, tears soaking his face, but he nodded. “Get help. I can’t.” Robin gave up speaking and just kept suffering on the ground.

Gary remained there with him, not even able to respond.

*

“If he wasn’t so damn fat, I coulda done it,” Robin stated, staring at the floor of the Pokemon Center.

“Don’t blame yourself. What was it? Fifty-nine pounds? That’s sixty pounds of weight.”

“Fifty-six,” Robin corrected him.

“Still sixty, basically. You saved his life. They both made it because of us. We did it! Let’s be happy! They were both dead if not for the both of us being there.”

“Ha, just wait ‘til my parents hear about this. My mom will make sure that guy never works again! A ha, huck...” Robin’s laughter was cut short as he coughed.

“They only believed him over us because the management didn’t wanna be responsible for what happened to us. But they’re screwed. They’ll be sued through the ass.”

“We were still in that building. It wasn’t cleared, and they let a poison bomb loose. They’re gonna get screwed several ways into the new year.” Robin smiled.

There was silence in the Emergency Room Robin and Gary sat in. While initially they were hooked up to breathing masks, they ended up being just fine by the next day, clearing all the medical tests given. Now, they sat apart on their separate beds, chatting and awaiting their discharge.

Gary turned to Robin, noticing the elongated silence. His eyes widened at the surprise guest.

Robin was already looking at the new arrival, smiling, his mouth hanging open.

An Alolan Raticate stood several feet from Robin.

How’d he get in here? Gary wondered. Ugly thing, really. Still, Gary smiled.

“Ben...” Robin stood up and took a slow, careful step forward.

Raticate’s tail swept the floor and then went still. “Rrrrrrrrr...” he seemed to growl.

Robin kept his smile and raised his hands by his face. “Hey. It’s okay, friend. I won’t hurt you. I never would. You’re my friend, Ben.” He moved closer, slowly reaching the Pokemon, and he slowly extended one arm.

Raticate stared at the hand and his tail waved a little. He moved forward and let Robin pet him.

“See? You can trust me, Ben.” Robin’s hand slid along Raticate’s cheek.

Raticate, his eyes closed, let out a kind of raspy, wheezy, anxious purr.

Robin pulled back his hand, Raticate watching now. He dug in his pocket. “Sorry I don’t have anything cooler, but I used up all of my-whoa!” His hand came out with a different kind of Poke Ball. “I forgot I had this thing!”

This Poke Ball was white on the bottom, green on top, and had four red, teardrop-shaped designs against the green, two of them on opposing ends of the ball.

“Perfect! What do you think, friend?” He held out the ball.

“Rrrrraticate!” He stared at Robin’s face but didn’t move.

Robin’s smile lessened just a bit. “Hey, you’re free to go if you like. Those remaining Rattata still need a leader, right? The extermination’s been put on hold in the meantime, so I’m sure you can find them at the condo. I just thought... Yano. HA HA! I dunno.” Robin’s hand lowered some.

“Rrrrraticate...” Raticate kept his eyes on the ball. He sniffed at it and then got closer, sniffing some more.

Robin started looking more hopeful. “What do you say? Friends, Ben? This is called the Friend Ball! I can’t imagine a better way to start off our journey together. Ha ha ha ha ha!”

“Raticate!” Raticate said, though there was no clear emotion to read as he stared at Robin.

Robin waited.

Gary watched.

Raticate looked behind him and then back to Robin.

“Oh...” Robin’s arm went down, disappointment on his face.

Raticate lunged forward! He ended up underneath the Friend Ball still in Robin’s lowering hand, sliding on the floor like he was playing baseball. His head bumped into the ball softly, and the Friend Ball opened, pulling him in by a red beam, and the ball closed!

The button blinked red repeatedly as it shook a couple of times in Robin’s hand before PING! The Friend Ball then glowed white and disappeared.

Robin made a tight fist, also forming a fist with his other hand. “Now that’s what I call class!” He burst into wild laughter, coughing lightly afterwards.

Gary stared at him uncomfortably. Even though they were alone, he felt embarrassed in the long time Robin was cackling almost maniacally.

“So that’s where he went.”

Both kids let out a shout and turned.

“Hello, boys. I’m sorry to have startled you,” Nurse Joy spoke, standing in the open doorway. “If you’re okay, we’re ready to let you both go!”

“Yeah!” Gary leaped up.

“Alright!” Robin cheered, also jumping to his feet.

Nurse Joy gave a bow and left the room.

Robin and Gary grabbed their bags and jackets from a couple of chairs and stepped out into the hallway, walking past several doors before stopping at a pair of electronic doors that opened at their arrival. They stepped into the lively Pokemon Center lobby.

Gary scanned the building, but he didn’t see Electivire anywhere. He’s supposed to be waiting for me. What’s his deal? He interrupts my matches, but he won’t stick around, either! Annoying. I can’t keep tracking down this thing. He’s gonna slow me up big time.

“Hey, Gary, if you’re not-” Robin started.

“YO! GARY!” a voice shouted, cutting off Robin and making both children turn. “Oh, and Robin! What’s up? I can’t believe I found you, Gary! I thought you’d left already!” His short self getting through the crowd, it was Scientist Gary with a smile on his face! He adjusted his glasses. “Nigg-bro! I’ve been looking all over for you, bro! Dude, I’ve got something for you?”

Gary blinked at him a few times, thinking back on the past few seconds. Wait... Gary remembered when Scientist Gary tried to call him the word “nigga” back in Kanto, but switched it up at the last second. I’m sure he just tried it, Gary thought. Is it me? Does he think I’ll be offended? I don’t want him to be any different around me because I’m Black. Or was it because of Rob, who’s White? Ugh, this just all seems so stupid! “What’s good, man?” Gary had tried to say the word back, but he wasn’t used to it, and he failed entirely.

Scientist Gary removed his little satchel and unzipped a section of it. “Dude, Kiwi sent me to give you this!” He held out a black, leather-bound notebook.

Gary made a face that resembled disgust and shock. “Wh-what?! Who??”

“Kiwi! Your friend from Pallet Town!” Scientist Gary responded easily.

“You know our friend Kiwi??!” Robin shouted.

“You know her, too? She only mentioned Gary,” the scientist told Robin.

Robin nearly hit the ground, an embarrassed smile on his face. “Kiwi sure has changed these days.”

“She told me she had something you’d be interested in, involving Prof. Oak,” Scientist Gary told Gary.

Gary stared at the book, not believing what was going on.

“Keep an eye out for your friend in Sinnoh. There’s something that might be of interest for you to look into concerning Prof. Oak,” Gary recalled Kiwi informing him. He stared at Scientist Gary, and then returned to the book.

Pondering his options.

Knowing there were none.

Knowing he’d take the book held shut by a leather strap.