June hit the ground, her breath coming out in a forced grunt. She looked up frightfully. Her clothing was tattered, shots of her skin visible through holes all over from her shirt and jeans. She was barefoot, her feet bleeding and swollen, blackened with filth and bruised, similar to her face.

A clawed hand with coal-black skin, a hand like that of a human, with long, broken nails, slashed for June’s face.

June screamed as she was struck, and blood hit the rocky ground.

There was a noise, unclear in the darkness of what was seemingly a cave, though there was a source of light coming from somewhere that also created wild, shifting, scary shadows.

A voice? Speaking? The clawed hand grabbed at June, grasping the back of her neck, lifting her up like a cat.

The noise was heard again.

There was a raspy yell in June’s face.

June screamed in return in pure terror, squirming but unable to free herself.

A second very black hand grasped at June’s hair. The first hand on the back ofJune’s neck let go, and June’s face was slammed to the ground. A filthy black foot with curved toenails, hooked like bird talons, stomped on her head, and the dark toes curled to dig the thick nails into the top of her head.

June shrieked for her life as blood started to spurt out from the breaking skin.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!” Gary sat up, and his scream didn’t stop as he stared in surprise at someone else screaming right in his face! On instinct, he reached out to attack, but luckily, a side of his brain recognized who it was, and he reduced his assault to just roughly grabbing onto her shoulders.

Cas stared back at him with wide eyes. “Gary, I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I...”

Gary’s mouth was hanging open wide, confused by what was going on. “Cas.”

“You were having a nightmare,” she swallowed. “I-I-I didn’t know what to do.”

Gary looked down her body to see that she was on his bed, sitting on her knees in a black, silky nightgown, her small bust visible in front of him. He took his time returning back to Cas’ eyes and then shook his head, breathing hard. “Cas, I-”

Cas moved in quickly and connected her lips with Gary’s.

Gary’s eyes bulged out for a moment, and then they closed as he placed one hand through her hair and rested it against the side of her face.

Cas pushed Gary down with her lips alone, laying the boy on his back, and Gary didn’t fight back. She then straddled Gary, her legs on either side of him as she sat atop him, and she moaned into the kiss, Gary responding with a similar sound. There were kissing sounds present before both boy and girl shyly let go. Like magnets, they went back eagerly for more kisses, the children not really sure of what they were doing, and not a clear reason as to why they were trying, but not wanting it to end.

Gary’s eyes were forced open again as something wet slipped into his mouth and met with his tongue. He panicked and let out a startled noise.

With a loud gasp, they broke apart, Cas sitting up.

“Cas!” Gary uttered.

They both stared at each other with open mouths, but not a word was spoken to each other.

Not until, “I love you!” Cas covered her mouth with her hands and removed herself from atop Gary. She leaped off the bed and took off, out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

Gary sat up and stared at the door. He could still feel the wetness of Cas’ tongue in his mouth, rubbing against his own tongue. He could taste her saliva in his mouth, and he swallowed, afraid to lose it. He licked his lips. “Cas...” He breathed heavily several times, and then his eyes went over the walls and ceiling of the room.

They were covered in white wallpaper with strange drawings of flowers, people, houses, animals, and designs Gary didn’t understand. Some were a couple of shapes of the Symbol Pokemon, Unown. The drawings didn’t seem to be done by an adult, but maybe by some youth. It all seemed to mean something, but Gary couldn’t decipher what. And he also couldn’t understand why, if the drawings were done by a young kid, there were a lot of penis drawings. He turned to the door again. “What are you doing to me...?” His breathing got more relaxed, but it was still an effort. He stared at his bed, laying underneath a pure white blanket, and took in a big, shaky breath and held it, closing his eyes. June, he thought, remembering his nightmare.

*

“Raichu, Double Team NOW!” Gary ordered.

“RAAI!” Raichu scrunched up his body and his cheeks sparked.

“Ralts, Thunderbolt!” Gary continued.

Ralts brought his hands close to his face and yelled out.

Nothing happened from either Pokemon.

Raichu’s cheeks stopped sparking as he looked to Gary sadly, and his ears lowered.

Ralts arms fell and he leaned over, breathing hard.

“Oh, what a joke! What else do I have to do?” Gary let out in exasperation. “You guys, c-come on,” Gary tried to speak more calmly.

Ralts squeaked and lowered his head further.

“Rai Rai Raichu.” Raichu lowered his head, too.

Gary let out his breath and turned to the next two Pokemon. “Clamperl, use Substitute!”

“Claaam!” Clamperl said and opened and closed his shell.

“Galvantula, uh, use Thunderbolt?” Gary wasn’t remembering her moves.

Galvantula’s entire body sparked, and she hit Clamperl with the Electric move.

Clamperl vanished in a puff of white smoke. With a shout, Clamperl landed in the grass, right behind Galvantula.

The big Electric spider jumped and her entire body turned around to face Clamperl.

“That’s the stuff!!” Gary pointed at the two. “See, Ralts? That’s what I need from you! Raichu and you need to focus better! You’ve both done it before, or come so close. We’re about to battle a Gym Leader and I need everyone to be ready so I’m prepared for any surprises she may have! I’m counting on you all.” Gary tried to relax, feeling himself getting impatient. “Please.” He went to Ralts and knelt down, holding out a hand.

Ralts horn glowed light blue. He cocked his head at Gary and reached out, holding his hand in both of his own.

Gary smiled. “I’m especially counting on you, you know. You might come in handy against Dark types. But we might have trouble against Ghosts like the Sableye she has. I need everyone to be prepared. I don’t even know how many Pokemon will be used. So let’s keep training and get this right, okay?”

Ralts kept his hold on Gary’s hand and jumped repeatedly.

Gary nodded and stood, freeing himself from Ralts, and turned to Primeape and Magneton.

Facing each other, Magneton was silent and hovering while Primeape was letting out impatient, low grunts, bending his knees repeatedly.

“Good energy, Primeape! Let’s keep it going! Magneton, use your... Thunder...” Gary said. “I gotta learn these guys’ attacks...” he then muttered. “Primeape, Cross Chop!” he then ordered.

Magneton’s eyes glowed red and its magnets were covered in sparking electricity. Its body then fired a beam of lightning outlined in black sparks.

Primeape crossed his arms and they glowed white as he leaped into the Thunder but was overtaken, screaming out in pain and then dropping. He got up easily, jumping around more than before, seeming energized from that blast.

“You’ve gotta move faster, Primeape! We’ve gotta train harder! Faster than lightning, stronger than iron! Let’s go!!” Gary pulled out his Pokedex and checked out Magneton’s moves. “Okay, let’s give Lock-On a try, Magneton! Primeape, Cross Chop again!”

Magneton’s eyes glowed red and two beams shot out.

Primeape leaped at Magneton with glowing, crossed arms again and was hit by the beam. This did nothing to him, but a red target was left on the front of his body. He slammed his arms into Magneton and tossed it back.

Magneton hit the ground and bounced and then tumbled.

Primeape landed easily and yelled out.

“Alright, Magneton follow up with Zap-!”

“Lec Lec Lec Lec Lec Lec Lec Lec Vire...”

The cackling got everyone to turn.

Electivire had been sleeping earlier, but now he was sat up with his bandaged arms crossed, chuckling at the group.

“Don’t start, pleeeease,” Gary rolled his eyes. Raichu? He looked over to him.

Raichu was staring with worry at Electivire and turned to Gary. “Raichu.”

“Prrrrrrrrrrrr,” Primeape growled. “AAAAAPEAPEAPE!!” Primeape charged at Electivire. As he got closer, he pulled back a fist.

Electivire stood up and then kicked out at Primeape. Catching him in the legs.

Primeape screeched hard and grabbed his shin, falling to his back. He rolled side to side, whining. He then rolled over so his back was to Electivire and started trembling.

Electivire was laughing, pointing at Primeape.

“Flinch!” Gary realized. “From Low Kick. Or Low Sweep... Anyway, I don’t see what was so funny, Electivire. Though,” he turned to Primeape, “I don’t recall instructing you to start attacking Electivire, either.”

Primeape was relaxing now and stood up. He ignored Gary and kept his attention on Electivire. With a yell, he leaped to Electivire again and swung on him!

Electivire easily smacked the punch away, and then his big hand came right back around and backhanded Primeape!

Primeape cried out and fell hard.

Maybe we should battle? If I can’t even beat him, I can’t be the best...! “Yeah! Primeape, let’s go! Focus Energy!”

Primeape started to breathe heavily and punched his fists together more and more. Snarling, his face got red, and soon his entire body was the same color. He jumped around like mad, punching out.

“That’s it!” Gary covered his ears. “SCREEEECH!!”

Primeape let out a horrible, sharp noise that felt like needles being forced into Gary’s ears!

Gary and the Pokemon all screamed out, suffering from the attack.

Even Electivire raised his hands to the sides of his head and fell to one knee, grunting and then calling out in agony.

Gary’s eyes teared up and he blinked numerous times to clear them. When he saw that the Screech was over, he screamed, “CLOSE COMBAT!!”

Primeape lunged for Electivire, swinging wild, swinging loose, swinging out of control.

“PRIMEAPE!!!” Gary blew up in a rage, recognizing what he was seeing.

Primeape was ready to connect several different blows with Electivire.

Electivire frowned, his eyes and body glowing red, and white smoke blew out of his nose!

“Whoa!” Gary let out, startled.

“EEEEELECT!!” Electivire shot his head forward in a headbutt. His face was struck by Primeape, but this didn’t slow down Electivire at all! His head still hit Primeape!

Primeape was rolling through the air and ended up on the ground on his side, groaning.

“PRIMEAPE!!” Gary called.

“Prime?” Just when Primeape looked up, Electivire punched at the ground and hit Primeape.

The Pig Monkey slid on the ground and finally laid still.

But Electivire didn’t stop. He moved and grabbed Primeape, lifting him into the air and slamming him right back down. He then swung out a leg and kicked Primeape, the Pokemon screaming helplessly until he was forcing out a series of grunts as he bounced along the ground.

“Prrrrr... Prrrrrrr...” Primeape struggled back up. He nodded at Electivire.

“THAT’S ENOUGH!!” Gary held out his arms at his sides.

The other Pokemon were all watching frightfully.

“PRIMEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPE!!!!” Primeape ran for Electivire, determined not to stop.

Gary watched, so happy his Primeape still had it in him to continue, but conflicted on if this was the right way to have a battle. Primeape wasn’t even listening to him. He knew Primeape had used Thrash when he had said to use Close Combat!

He also knew Electivire had just used Frustration. This made Gary wonder where the power for it was coming from if June wasn’t around. Was she still the source for his anger? Or...?

“Prime?” Primeape skidded to a stop.

Gary gasped.

The Pokemon all uttered out low responses.

Electivire had turned his back on Primeape and wasn’t moving. It was like he wasn’t even afraid of Primeape attacking him; or he was daring him to. After a minute, Electivire walked off, disappearing into the surrounding woods.

Primeape took a step forward. After his second step, he fell onto one knee and let out his breath. His body heaved as he tried to regain his energy.

Gary had moved after a moment and ended up knelt down beside his Pokemon. He put his arm around Primeape’s body. “We’ll get him, man.” He and Primeape both had their eyes on where they had last seen Electivire before he had gone through the trees. “Keep up that energy, and we’ll get him.” He stared at Primeape. “But we have a lot to work on, don’t we?”

Primeape never looked away from where Electivire had last been.

*

“Your Pokemon are all ready for your Gym match, Gary. Good luck!” Nurse Joy had a bright smile on her face, topped with a bright array of flowers sat around her head.

Gary nodded with his own big smile. “Have a nice day.” He turned from her and walked to the front door.

While he was quite taken by this Nurse Joy, like he would be any other Nurse Joy, he couldn’t ignore such a bizarre smile. It didn’t appear forced, but it definitely wasn’t normal. But Gary couldn’t define exactly what made her’s so... off. And he couldn’t help but feel that there was some meaning behind the smile, as well as the flower crown she wore, despite him finding her even more beautiful with the topping.

Gary wasn’t sure why, but he knew he definitely felt this unease mainly because of Cas. The self-proclaimed witch. Whether or not she really was one, she seemed to believe she was. Something about this put discomfort in Gary’s heart.

As Gary walked through the lobby of the Pokemon Center, he stared at the white wallpaper covered in strange drawings of men and women seemingly not doing much more than staring out at him, looking at each other in other artwork, along with some images of bears, burning buildings, more Unown, and far too much other stuff to keep track of. He had the creeping feeling that Cas was the reason for things like these peculiar, yet innocent sights. It was as if all the quirks came with a hidden meaning that, if he knew more about Cas and her witchcraft, might not be so hidden.

Another thing that had bothered Gary were the framed photographs of women who all looked like Nurse Joy that were on one wall. They all had on the same flower crowns, vague differences if any, and all of them were smiling, some just slightly less enthusiastic than others. Excited or not so excited, the collection held an eerie, unsettling feeling with it.

Gary shook himself off as he left the building. He looked around, but didn’t see what he was looking for. “I guess he isn’t gonna be watching my Gym battle,” he muttered and then sighed. “How am I gonna find him afterwards, then?”

Gary then started thinking about his own Pokemon. I’ve got Primeape with me, so that should work well against her Dark types. Fighting types. Maybe I should also bring over that Riolu... Gary stopped walking, standing outside of the Gym. Gary... Don’t do this to yourself... This isn’t the same thing. That’d be a big mistake. He heard himself sniffle as he looked at the building before him.

The Gym was tall, made of seemingly old planks of wood. Holding two floors, the gray house’s exterior had a large ring of flowers at the front of the middle of it. The top floor of the building was a separate section, a big yellow triangle with a single dark window. Gary had no idea what was there, as the room he’d been sleeping in the previous night was behind a door on the first floor. The first floor was also where the Gym match would take place.

Gary stood in front of humongous double doors that were wide open and stared inside.

The room was lit with several small candles, giving low light. Like the room he slept in, and like the Pokemon Center, the walls were covered in white wallpaper with bizarre, loosely-drawn images.

Gary’s eyes stopped on one.

It was of a young female with her dress lifted, her knees bent over a little cup. Something was dripping from a dark place between her legs, into the cup. Before that image, Gary noticed a closeup of that dark place, looking like an oval of blur surrounding something. The female had a pair of scissors open to the spot.

Gary gasped and cringed, disturbed and not sure what he was seeing. Is... “it” cut off on that girl? Or... Or is that an accurate drawing? Don’t they have... “one”??

There was another image further ahead of a young man with swirls in his eyes, as if he were hypnotized.

“A little love story,” a voice in the room said.

Gary jumped and turned to see a man in a white... dress? No. Even Gary knew that couldn’t be a dress.

It was some kind of formal wear, with a beige sash around the waist. He wore a wide brim hat in the same color as the sash. He approached Gary with open arms and stopped before him.

Gary couldn’t believe it as the man wrapped his arms around him in a big hug, and he hugged him back, entirely out of shock. That was when he saw someone else. His mouth dropped open, and his eyes widened. No way...

There was a girl beaming at them both. She looked pretty frightening, covered in a scary getup. Her eyes were surrounded in black makeup, her lips drenched in darkness as well. Her face was in pale makeup, a dark line straight down the middle of her face from her forehead to her chin. Her nails were painted black. A big black dress on her came down to the floor, covering her feet entirely.

It’s Cas, Gary knew, finding, even despite the whole costume that made her unrecognizable, that she looked so beautiful. He smiled back at her.

The man released him. “Welcome, Gary. We are so happy to see you!” he nodded enthusiastically.

Gary smiled slightly and nodded uncomfortably at the man. Who is this weirdo? Gary questioned. His eyes went to Cas for a second, and then they went to the man and looked him over.

The man jumped a little, holding up his hands, making Gary also jump back a bit. “Is it my frock?” He raised it slightly. “Quite girly, no?” He fluttered it a bit and did a short, corny little dance, clearly trying to be funny.

Gary let out a light laugh. “No, it’s great, um.” He turned to Cas. “Cas! HI!” He walked away from the guy and towards Cas.

Cas looked thrilled and ran up to him and pulled him into a hug, resting her chin on his shoulder. “I’m so glad you came, Gary. I wasn’t sure you’d be here.”

“Huh? Why wouldn’t I?”

Cas looked into Gary’s eyes. “Because I ran away after...” She went silent briefly. “I love you, Gary.”

Gary’s heart exploded listening to the girl’s sweet, melting voice. If she were truly a witch, her voice was like that which Gary expected them to sound like. Deep, seductive, and holding secrets Gary could only dream of finding out. He couldn’t get over how beautiful her thick, wide lips were. He found himself longing for another kiss from them. “Cas... Really?”

“Gary, yes. And it sucks that you’re going to be my final challenger.”

“Wh-what? Your final challenger? What do you mean? AAAAAHH!!” Gary jumped as the man appeared beside them with a huge grin.

“Our Casey is leaving the Gym for good after your battle,” he told Gary. He looked happily from Cas to Gary and back.

“What do you mean?!” Gary cried to Cas.

“It’s just, a while back, I was a cripple. I had broken my ankle and couldn’t even walk,” Cas explained. “So I had to teach my mom, dad, and sister how to cook and clean and do all the stuff I normally did for them all. They’ve got it down well enough, and I think this has become the opportunity I needed to break free and start traveling. I don’t know what I’ll do exactly, or where I’ll go, but I need to get out of here and see the world, come back someday, I’m sure, but I can’t stay here any longer. I’ll leave the Gym to my family, and go off on my own.”

On your own...? Gary thought. I should invite her to travel with me. “Cas...”

Cas smiled at him and then frowned at the man. “And you know I do not like the name Casey, Father Odd. It’s Cas.”

The man laughed and nodded. “I am so sorry, Cas. I do need to work on that. Please forgive me.”

Gary’s heartbeat sped up with nervousness. Am I about to witness the wrath of an angry witch? he only half-joked to himself.

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“Please do, Father Odd,” she said kind of sweetly. She then turned to Gary and blinked once, slowly. “Gary.”

Gary smiled, taken by her adorableness. “Cas. Cas...”

“Gary?” A look of concern came over her face.

“Cas, I hate to sound too taken, but you’re far prettier than I remember only the other night, where I can see you better here in this room.”

Cas closed her eyes and lowered her head, smiling hard.

“You can see your beauty so easily here. I love that you’re the Gym Leader here. I love that I can get to see you. I’m infatuated by such a beauty,” Gary poured out his heart.

“You’re so kind,” Cas gushed, looking at him again. “You know, I could paint you. Your face is so strong, you’re like a sculpture. Your eyes, too. They’re so deep, like caverns where intelligence dances with emotion.”

Gary was stunned into silence by such words.

“You really are beautiful...” Cas continued to speak delicately. “I mean that with my whole heart.”

“W-w-w-wow...” Gary paused, trying to find the next words he could possibly say after hearing all of that. “I’ve never heard anything like that about me in my life... Th-that... was heartstopping. You’ve a way with your words, honey. Absolutely incredible. I love it.”

“I’m only describing what I see before me, love.”

“And what I see, is quite the lovely romance,” Father Odd jumped in. “But, as the judge and advisor, I feel it is my duty to interrupt this and remind you of your Gym Leader duties, as I hope is not a problem and that I haven’t overstepped my boundaries.” He smiled extremely big.

Cas shook her head warmly at Father Odd. “You’re fine.”

Gary watched this moment with returning nervousness.

Cas returned to Gary. “I think it is best we begin our match. It is why you are here, after all.”

Gary nodded.

Cas got an apprehensive look on her face. “Does my makeup not scare you?”

Gary shook his head. “Nah, not at all. I hope I don’t offend you, but you kind of remind of me that band, Siouxise and the Mankeys.”

“I love them!” Cas exclaimed, smiling excitedly.

“Yeah! Me, too!” Gary replied.

Cas giggled. Then, she walked away from him and stopped.

Gary then took in the rest of the Gym and finally saw the battlefield!

Cas was standing on her end of the field outlined in black that was barely visible in the poor lighting.

His eyes then spotted four doors. He had seen them when he first entered the Gym the previous night, and his eyes stopped on the door that would lead to the room he stayed in. Gary walked over to his end of the battlefield and turned to Cas. A more determined look came over his face.

Father Odd walked to the outside of the battlefield and stopped in the middle.

“Gary, I’m so glad my makeup didn’t scare you,” Cas grinned.

“Nothing about you could, my love,” Gary replied to her.

Cas now smiled with her teeth. She raised one finger into the air and then lowered it.

Father Odd nodded. “Please, state your name and hometown for the record.”

“Oh! Uh, I’m Gary, from the Kanto region. Pallet Town!” Gary struggled to get out.

“This match is a one-on-one match between Cas, the Powerzone Gym Leader,” Father Odd explained, the choice making Gary gasp out loud, “and Gary of Kanto’s Pallet Town! There is no time limit! The first Trainer whose Pokemon is defeated, is out, and the winner will be the opponent! This battle may now begin!”

Gary was a little confused by Father Odd’s choice of words and froze, thinking on them until, from out of nowhere, white smoke started slowly filling the Gym! “Hey! Whoa! Cas!” He turned to her.

She stared at him solemnly, not reacting as the smoke started hiding her.

Father Odd was also calm, watching Gary as he vanished in the smoke.

Cackling filled the building from a number of unclear areas.

Gary tried to spot the source of the new voices and called out, “Hey!” as red eyes were now appearing and disappearing all over the place, the only things visible through the smoke. He also found that he wasn’t choking. It’s not smoke, he realized. It’s fog? Is it a fog machine? What’s that flying around? It looks like there’s a bunch of them! Cas’ Pokemon? Sableye?

“I hope you don’t mind, Gary.”

Gary looked to Cas, eager for an explanation. Instead, he screamed at the top of his lungs.

Cas wasn’t there anymore. Instead, there stood Prof. Oak! Prof. Oak stood staring at him in his white lab coat over a dark-red shirt tucked into beige pants held up by a brown belt with a silver buckle. His feet were in brown shoes.

Gary’s mouth hung open in disbelief. “Prof. Oak...?” He shook his head hard and his eyes narrowed. “N-NO! NOOOO!!” He looked around angrily. “GET ME OUT OF HEEERRRRRRRRE!!”

“Gary, please relax,” a voice echoed throughout the Gym. “Please don’t leave, honey.”

Gary stopped moving. “Cas? CAS! WHERE ARE YOU?!” He looked around briefly before turning back to the professor.

He had a Great Ball in one hand, enlarged.

“Gary, you’ll have to forgive me, but this is my Gym, and we battle within a unique environment of fear,” Cas spoke out, her voice echoing so hauntingly from every direction. “Many Gyms have a... I guess, a gimmick to it. A pool in a Water Gym, a forest in a Grass Gym, a gym in a Fighting Gym. Here, in the Dark Gym, with my obsession for Psychic types, Ghost types, Dark types, fear is my passion! Please, Gary. This is all an illusion, courtesy of some of my Ghost Pokemon friends. I’m glad my makeup didn’t scare you away, Gary, but today, you face what truly scares you the most and must overcome it all in order to earn the Phobia Badge.”

A buzzing sound filled the building, and Gary shouted out in disgust as the skin all over his body began to crawl. He grabbed and smacked and patted at his body, feeling as if there were bugs all over him. He looked at himself, but he couldn’t tell if anything was on him due to his clothing, but the feeling was enough to make him rip his clothes right off!

“Gary, sweetheart, this is hereby out of my control,” Cas told him. “I will be battling you, but the effects are not mine. I love you...”

“CAS! PLEASE!” Gary begged. “DON’T DO THIS!!”

“Gary, my boy!”

Gary turned to the visual of Prof. Oak and shook his head. “YOU ARE NOT PROFESSOR OAK!!”

Prof. Oak laughed. “Son, of course I am! I gave you your Starter, Charmander, and Robin his Squirtle, Aly her Bulbasaur, and Kiwi her Pidgey.”

Gary took in a long, shaky gasp, continuing to shake his head.

“You had issues in the Viridian Forest with Charmander and were beaten within an inch of your life along with your Mankey, by a group of wild Mankey,” Prof. Oak went on. “Your first Badge, from Obsidian City, the Dimensia Badge, was a Gastly in disguise. You made it to the top sixteen in the Indigo League last year.” He held up the Great Ball and threw it.

From within the ball, a being came out. At first hunched over, it stood, revealing itself to be a human girl!

Gary let out a terrible yell as he laid eyes upon his sister! Melissa!!

Gary’s sister stared at him with a black hood over her head and standing in purple jeans and black sneakers. Her thin lips held a sweet smile. Her light-blue eyes stared into Gary’s dark-brown ones.

Trembling, Gary shook his head. “Wh-?!” He was breathing hard, taking several steps back. “MELISSAAAAAAA!!”

The ball hit June and opened, and an orange beam came out, hitting her and making her glow orange.

June screamed as she was turned completely into a shapeless, orange energy and pulled inside of the ball!

Seeing a human come out of a Poke Ball reminded Gary of when June went inside of one! And worst of all, his sister had popped out!

This isn’t real! This isn’t real! Gary chanted in his head. Melissa, Prof. Oak, it’s all an illusion!

“Who will you choose to face my Honchkrow, my boy!” Prof. Oak insisted happily.

Gary squinted at Prof. Oak before looking at Melissa. “It’s not my sister. It’s not Melissa... It’s...” He pulled out his Pokedex.

Honchkrow. The Big Boss Pokemon. The evolved form of Murkrow when exposed to a Dusk Stone. It is both Dark and Flying. By merely crying out, it summons and gives orders to entire flocks of Murkrow. The pitch black scene of the sky being taken over by Murkrow gives Honchkrow its nickname the “summoner of the night.”

Gary looked back up to his sister, and then back to the revolving 3D image of Honchkrow shown on his Pokedex. He ended up frowning at the girl. “This is some bull,” he muttered, noticing the floating red eyes appearing and disappearing in the background. He scratched at his body, irritated by the buzzing noises. “That’s not my sister!” he called out louder. “It’s a Honchkrow!” He put away his Pokedex and grabbed a Poke Ball from his waist, leering at Prof. Oak. “And you’re not the professor! You’re Cas! Everything here is a load of crap!” He screamed to the ceiling, readying his brain, amping himself up, demanding some focus! Then, he did a double take at Father Odd.

Because Father Odd wasn’t there. Instead - was the monster!

Gary screamed and his legs gave out as he ended up on the floor.

The monster stood completely naked as always, her long black hair going down her back. Her chest carried her large, diamond-shaped breasts with each of her flat nipples shaped like half of a diamond and darker than her already blackened skin. There were her long fingers and cracked, extended nails like claws. Her thick legs with loads of hair on them, her feet ending in toes with hooked nails like talons. Red diamond patterns in different shapes were all over her body. Her back end was large enough to just barely see as she stood facing Gary. Her head sat atop her curvy, elongated, scaly neck. Her disturbing eyes kept Gary frozen. She opened her mouth and her fat, pink tongue tumbled out, slithering in her mouth around broken teeth. The hole in her face where a nose would be widened for a bit, and then shrunk down.

Gary shook his head, horrified most of all by the eyes.

They were all black but had purple tips surrounding it, the holes they sat in being rectangular rather than circular, showing open, dark space between the sides of the eyeballs and the skin, only the top and bottom of the eyeballs connecting with the face. It was just unnatural and disturbing, no matter how many times he saw it.

“Gary, you’ll need to send out a Pokemon, or you’ll be disqualified from this battle,” the monster spoke... in Father Odd’s voice!

Gary blinked in confusion, ending with his eyes wide in surprise. “Ha.” He got up. “Wrong voice,” he spoke, sneering.

The monster stared at him, confused, and then looked down upon herself.

“But you are right. It is my turn!” He was feeling stronger now. Hearing Father Odd’s voice come out of the monster almost made a mockery of all of this madness. A joke. He made a fist and then stared at it as he opened it wide, surprised he was able to fully close it. “My Poke Ball!” Gary picked it up from the ground where he dropped it and then faced... his sister... He was shaking now. It’s all in your head, man! he told himself. No. An illusion! It’s a Honchkrow! He swiped at his left ear and rubbed his left shoulder against his chin as his skin continued to crawl from the buzzing insect sounds. “IT’S JUST A HONCHKROW!! GOOOO!!” He threw the Poke Ball.

It hit the ground and opened, sending out a little Pokemon in a white flash.

Ralts squeaked happily. His smile faded as he saw Melissa leerring down at him. He squeaked at her, confused, and then looked to Gary. He then turned to the referee and let out a loud scream, backing up.

“Hey! Take it easy, Ralts! I’m counting on you for this one! Everything here is a lie! There’s no Prof. Oak, no girl in front of you, and that monster is just a man in a dress!”

The monster looked down at herself and grabbed at her legs. “It’s a frock, actually, but-”

“We can win if we just focus on the battle and not the distractions, Ralts!” Gary cut the man-monster off. “Let’s start this off right! Use that Thunderbolt!” His right shoulder was bugging him now and he scratched at it. Nothing’s real. It’s just sounds, he told himself, struggling to ignore the buzzing.

Red eyes swam in and out of the fog.

Ralts’ body sparked as he yelled out and then raised his arms into the air!

Nothing happened.

“RALTS!” Gary couldn’t believe it didn’t work!! “RALTS, THUNDERBOLT NOW!!” he roared at his little Pokemon.

“A Psychic and Fairy type,” Prof. Oak acknowledged. “A nice choice, my boy! But evolution takes an advantage here. Use Nasty Plot!”

Melissa now wore an evil smirk on her face as she eyed Ralts like a hawk. Her body then glowed red for a moment.

“And follow up with Swagger!”

Melissa inhaled and puffed out her chest, keeping eyes on Ralts.

Ralts cried out and stumbled about, his body glowing red with his eyes. The red around his body vanished, but his eyes remained the color, Ralts now Confused and his Attack boosted! He shouted and bolts of Electricity surrounded him, but he didn’t attack. Another failed move. He spun around in Confusion and dropped, landing on his head, injuring himself. Ralts struggled to get up and swayed, holding onto his hair and moaning.

“RALTS, GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF!!” Gary was rubbing his arms hard, the buzzing seeming to get even louder, and the red eyes seemed to be appearing more frequently. Were there more of them now? he wondered. He gave his head a hard shake, struggling to concentrate. “HYPNOSIS!!”

Ralts turned to Melissa and called out lazily, but nothing actually happened until he fell over hard again. He mumbled and moaned, his arms and legs kicking out stupidly.

This was a mistake! Gary whined out loud as his shoulders slumped. Why would I choose to use Ralts for this? And in a one-on-one!

“Now use Foul Play to finish this up!” Prof. Oak insisted.

Melissa now ran at Ralts.

“RAAAAAAAALTS!!” Gary wailed in a panic.

Ralts sat up, still Confused, and his horn glowed light blue. With a loud cry, Ralts curled up into a ball and his body started sparking again.

Melissa stopped at Ralts to pull back her right leg, looking ready to kick the Pokemon like a football!

Ralts screamed out as his body released a big yellow blast, hitting Melissa!

Melissa was stuck, screaming out in pain, and she collapsed onto her back, still wailing out helplessly. This turned into a much different, and much more familiar scream.

Gary gasped, mortified at what he was now seeing.

Melissa wasn’t being electrified by yellow lightning from Ralts.

No... Gary’s eyes watered, horrified, disgusted, at what was actually happening before him!

Melissa was surrounded by blue electricity, screaming for her life in agony.

The hair atop the creature reached out and connected with Melissa’s face.

Melissa screamed at the top of her lungs as her body was lit by the blue lightning, and her body jumped.

“MELISSAAAAAAA!!” Gary exploded and took a step forward.

She hit the ground and laid still.

Gary swallowed.

Ralts looked back at his Trainer and cried out to him. His horn glowed again.

Two fists formed, and Gary furrowed his eyebrows. He opened his mouth wide and took in a big, angry breath as he tilted his head back and closed his eyes. And then, “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUGGGGHHH!!!!!” Feeling completely out of control, enraged, infuriated, he stared at everyone.

Prof. Oak, Melissa who now was sitting up and staring at him, Ralts, and even the monster.

Wide eyes returned all of the stares.

“Hu-huh...” Gary’s body shuddered and he grabbed at his head, collapsing to his knees. He could have thrown up in that moment. He blinked repeatedly, not sure what was going on.

“Gary?” Prof. Oak called out to him. “STOP THE MATCH!”

Gary looked up at Prof. Oak.

“STOP THE ILLU-!!”

“NOOO!!” Gary swallowed and when his lips tightened, he realized he had been drooling. “NO! JUST WAIT!” He wiped at his mouth quickly. “DON’T STOP A THING!” he pleaded. His body was shaking as he got up, but he kept his balance. “If this is the way you wanna play, ha, ha...” he managed to say, his breathing heavy now. “Then let’s finish it this way. I, I’m fine. I’m over it. Do your worst.” He smiled at Prof. Oak. “I’ll defeat you head on, sir!”

A shocked look took over the worried one Prof. Oak had, and then he smiled and nodded. “If you’re sure, son.”

“Ralts! You ready?”

Ralts horn was still glowing light blue, looking at his Trainer with a face that was a little hard to read, most of it covered by his hair. His eyes weren’t red anymore, the Confusion lifted. The horn stopped glowing and he nodded. With a cry, he turned to Melissa.

Melissa was on her feet. She shook her head and glared at Ralts.

“Use Dark Pulse!” Prof. Oak decided.

“Ralts, Teleport away from that!” Gary said.

Melissa inhaled big and then exhaled in a loud scream.

A beam of black and purple circles came out of her mouth.

Ralts glowed in multiple colors and appeared behind Melissa!

“THUNDERBOLT!!”

Ralts held out his arms and blasted at Melissa again.

Gary bared his teeth, struggling to be strong! “GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”

“NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!” Melissa shrieked. She stumbled forward and ended up on her back. From her position, she was able to look at Gary.

Her light-blue eyes tore into Gary’s heart. She looks... pale... Gary realized. As pale as when I last saw her. Before-

“Little brother... Please...” she whimpered. “It...”

“No...” Gary whispered, shaking his head.

She flinched and yellow static surrounded her body. “Gary, it hurts. Help me...”

“GET AWAY FROM MEEEEEEE!! YOU’RE DEEEEEAD!!” Gary barked at her. He almost didn’t notice the tears falling from his eyes, but when he did, he stared at the floor, seeing a couple of wet drops. “Ralts...” Gary stopped and came to a realization. “Wait... Ralts!” He smiled at his Pokemon. “Let’s try and break this all apart! Disarming Voice!”

Ralts opened his mouth and a loud shriek came out, a beam of purple hearts hitting Melissa.

Melissa sat up and raised an arm against the blast but fell back as she gave in. After that, she stood up, seeming just fine. She gave a nasty smile to Ralts.

Ralts shouted at her.

“You won’t be able to shake the illusion that easily, but a noteworthy attempt, Gary!” Prof. Oak commended.

Gary growled in response at him.

“Now, another Dark Pulse! Let’s end this!”

“Ralts!” Gary’s eyes closed as he pressed the tragus of his ear to the earhole to help keep out the buzzing that was really messing with him. He was sure it was louder than ever! “RALTS! Grrrr! I can’t! Can’t think! HYPNOSIS!”

Melissa used Dark Pulse again.

Ralts was just staring at Gary! His horn was glowing light blue again.

Gary’s eyes watched what was going on. “RALTS! Look out!”

Ralts’ entire body glowed brightly. Dark Pulse collided with him, tossing him back. As he hit the ground and slid, his body remained glowing, and started changing!

Gary gasped. “Ralts! WHOA!” He smiled in amazement.

Prof. Oak beamed, his eyes wide.

The monster had a small smile as she watched as well.

Melissa watched with wide, stunned eyes.

The glow vanished in one bright flash and revealed the new Pokemon. “Kirlia!”

“A Kirlia! Wait, but...” Isn’t that a girl? Ralts is a he!

Kirlia. The Emotion Pokemon. Ralts evolved form. A Psychic and Fairy type Pokemon. This Pokemon uses its horns to distort realities, cause illusions, and rip dimensions. The amount of control they have over this power is incredible, as they could easily bring about global destruction in moments.

“This is amazing, my boy! You have a fantastic Kirlia there! Congratulations!” Prof. Oak approved, clapping.

“That’s amazing work! You both came through for each other!” even Father Odd, the monster, was telling Gary, also clapping.

Wait, so there’s no gender difference? The boy does look like that? Gary looked over to Kirlia.

Kirlia was struggling back to his feet. When he was up, he crossed one leg in front of the other, and his hands touched in front of his body. He looked back at Gary and his horns glowed light blue.

Gary laughed a little. “Okay, cool. No problem.” So be it. A little skirt... Whatever, ha.

“Kirlia?” Kirlia tilted his head at Gary.

“We’ve got a match to win! You ready?” Gary nodded.

Kirlia’s horns stopped glowing and he faced Melissa. “Kirlia!”

“First, I think it’s time to clear this illusion crap once and for all!” Gary had a hardened look on his face now. “Kirlia, do your thing!”

“Kiiiiiiirlia!” As a light-blue outline surrounded his eyes, Kirlia’s eyes and horns went entirely black, twinkles seen through the eyes, like stars. His entire body became outlined in light blue. He raised his arms and extended them out from his sides.

The buzzing was cut off instantly, bringing immediate recognition and relief from Gary.

Next, Melissa vanished in the blink of an eye, replaced by a big, black bird! Honchkrow!

After that, Prof. Oak was gone just as fast, Cas now standing there!

The monster was gone after that, Father Odd taking her place.

The red eyes stopped appearing, and the gray fog was cleared, the Gym back to its normal look! The only difference was that there were a few new creatures around the room! Gary recognized a Gastly, a Haunter, a Gengar, a Dusclops, and a Misdreavus, but a few others were new to him. They all stared in shock at Gary and Kirlia, and then looked to Cas and Father Odd.

“Go to your room, everyone,” Cas smiled and nodded.

At once, all the Pokemon flew upward, through the ceiling.

That upstairs room... Gary realized with shock. They... stay there?

“Baby? Shall we proceed?”

Gary looked down to her swiftly only to lift his head up again. He went back to Cas and gave his head a hard shake. “Right! Kirlia!” Should I do Light Screen? Reflect? He took a breath and released it. He opened his mouth and stopped when he saw Kirlia’s horns glowing light blue. “Kirlia?”

Kirlia stared at him and nodded before looking back at Honchkrow.

“It’s our turn, then! Dark Pulse, right now!” Cas demanded.

“Kirlia!” Kirlia cried, still holding his arms out.

A rainbow of lights swirled around his entire body and gleamed twice before expanding outward.

“Hoooonchkrow!” Honchkrow opened its beak and blasted back with Dark Pulse.

The two moves hit and exploded, both Pokemon screaming out as they were tossed backwards! Smoke spread out from the explosion and there was silence as everyone watched and waited.

“Electivire...”

Gary jumped and stared in shock at Electivire!

The Pokemon was several feet from Gary, watching as the smoke cleared.

“Electivire?! How the hell long have-?” Gary started.

“Kirlia is unable to battle! Honchkrow is the winner!”

Gary gasped and whipped back around.

Kirlia was on his back, laid out.

Honchkrow was settled down, its head down, eyes closed, and feathers ruffled, shaking its head.

“Cas and Honchkrow are the winners of this match, the Phobia Badge remaining with Cas!” Father Odd finished. He smiled at Gary. “You did good, kid. A great battle.”

Cas walked over to her Pokemon.

Honchkrow turned to her and closed its eyes as Cas patted its head, and it pushed back happily against her hand.

“A great job, Honchkrow. I’m so proud of you.”

“Honchkroooow!”

Honchkrow was returned to its Great Ball.

Gary ran up to Kirlia and got down on one knee. “Thanks, Kirlia. I can’t believe you evolved! That’s as good as any Badge. As long as you’re okay.”

“Kirl...?” Kirlia slowly opened his eyes to his Trainer. His horns glowed light blue.

Gary touched the side of his face, smiling.

“Kirlia...” Kirlia whispered, closing his eyes and smiling back. He rested his face against Gary’s hand before relaxing his body.

“Rest up, friend. We’ve got a lot of training to do.” Gary recalled his Pokemon and stood up as Cas walked up to him. “Cas... I...”

Cas took both of Gary’s hands in hers and pulled him to his feet, taking the boy by surprise as he cried out. She smiled so sweetly at him. “This is yours, Gary.” She put something between his hands and let go of him.

Gary opened his hands to see a Badge!

It was an eyeball, the black pupil very large.

Gary looked to her. “What are you doing? I lost! I can’t take this!” He grabbed her hand, but Cas was ready for this.

She used her free hand to grab his wrist that held her and yanked him hard to her face and then wrapped both arms behind his head to deliver a big kiss on his lips.

Gary’s mouth instinctually opened as he took in a noisy breath and then closed as he pressed them against Cas’. He felt a wet object slip into his mouth that forced his eyes open, and he closed his eyes as he tried to replicate what Cas was doing to him. It felt stupid, sloppy, embarressing, but he was loving every second of it.

It took a couple of minutes before the two finally broke apart, their faces close to each other, breathing hard.

“Things got out of hand with my Ghosts,” Cas told him. “I can see that they tormented you with what they did, and I feel terrible. Take the Badge. It’s only fair. It’s only right!”

“Then travel with me, Cas. Please!”

“Gary, I can’t do that,” Cas shook her head. “That isn’t fair. I won’t!”

“Why??”

“You have someone you traveled with, Gary! A girl!”

Gary pulled away from Cas with wide eyes. “W-wh-what do you mean...?”

Cas smirked at him. “Sweetie, I told you I’m a psychic, didn’t I, baby? I just know these things! And besides, back in Bewilder Forest, you spilled everything out of your bag. I saw... a thing or two you may not be aware of at your young age,” she couldn’t help but chuckle, “but there’s no way any boy is carrying that. She was taken while you two were traveling. You’re looking for her. I can’t be there when you find her.”

“Cas...” Gary’s shoulders fell with his head, all in shame. “What was I thinking...? You’re right...” Why was I about to...? Why would I do that? Gary questioned himself. He looked to Cas. “Cas... So, you’re really a witch?”

Cas’ smile faded some. “Yes, baby. I am.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean any offense, but... I just have to ask... did you put, like, a spell on me or something? I feel like, ever since I laid eyes on you, I’ve been... not quite myself, ha ha.”

Cas smiled more and looked off to the side. “No... I don’t think so... I mean, maybe I put together a lil’ somethin’ one night and put out some energy into the air, feelin’ kind of lonely, askin’ for a lil’ someone to keep meh company. Wonderin’ what this love thing was truly all about.”

Gary could just melt at her accent. What a way to speak! Gary swooned. “Then maybe I’m that answer! Cas, travel with me!”

Cas looked down. “Gary, I-”

He grabbed her hands and bent down on one knee, making Cas look down on him. “I did lie, kind of. I admit it. I don’t know what took over me. But that girl is nothing but a friend to me! We’re not interested in each other! But I do know I love you, Cas. Travel with me. You want to explore? Then do it with me! We can show each other so many different things, and even track down this monster! Together! Cas, I love you!”

“Gary, I love you, too...” Cas said hesitantly. “I really do.” She pulled free one hand and placed it over Gary’s. “Gary...”

“Cas.”

Cas got down with Gary and pulled him towards her.

They kissed again.