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- Seen Sep 25, 2013
Chapter 41: It's Not Just You. It's Him, Too
I stared at the person.
That person stared back at me silently.
The wind blew hard suddenly, causing me to tighten my coat around me, digging my hands into my pockets deeper.
Nothing could be heard besides the heavy blowing from the wind.
We both stared at each other until the wind stopped blowing so hard. When it ended a long time later, there was nothing but silence to be heard. Neither of us was saying a word to each other.
I finally wanted to say something, but I couldn't think of any words to say. I assumed the person I was staring at was in the same predicament.
So we just stared at each other, not moving, the wind returning again, blowing a little more gently than before.
"Why are you here?" I asked, tired of the silence, tired of just standing here, doing nothing.
Their mouth opened, but they stayed silent for a moment. "Gary."
"I know my name," I snapped. "What are you doing here?"
I could see fear in their eyes now.
Silence.
My patience was wearing thin. I kept silent and kept my eyes straight ahead on their eyes as the stare was returned back, only less harsh. I was glaring coldly.
The eyes that stared back at me were much softer, caring, sad, concerned, fearful.
I couldn't believe who I was staring at. Who knows how long it's been. Why here? Why now? Why at all?
Dressed for the occasion in tall red boots and tight white jeans, a big red winter coat on zipped up with the hood pulled tight on their head, cover a lot of their face I could still recognize, we continued to eye each other like cowboys do in a Western movie before shooting the other one down. A large bag was slung over their shoulder.
The wind began to blow even harder, howling loudly, disrupting the silence.
I stood my ground against the sudden, strong gust.
I watched this individual huddle closer against the wind. Their eyes closed, and remained closed, even after the wind stopped blowing, clearly afraid to look up at me.
I waited for the eyes to open.
They did. Very slowly, very carefully, very cautiously, as if there was some fear that I might be there to strike them.
I didn't want to stand here all day. "I don't know why you're here," I finally said. "I have things to do. If you don't have anything to say, I have to get going. If you have something to say, I suggest you say it now because I'm not gonna just be waiting here forever. What do you want?"
I saw the lips part open to speak, but no sound came out. After a swallow and a gentle clearing of the throat, the lips parted again to speak, but nothing came out again.
I waited, my eyes glaring colder as more time passed by.
I watched the eyes closed and a deep breath was taken. Then another. Then another. The eyes opened again and I stared into them, waiting. A tongue came out from between the lips, licking them, preparing to speak. Another deep breath was taken. Another deep breath followed that one. Another followed behind that one.
My teeth grit with impatience. My fists tightened with anger. I'd waited long enough. "I have to go," I said, turning to leave.
"Gary, wait!" the cry reached me, stopping me.
I turned around angrily. "Wait for what, June?" I shouted.
At her name, she backed up a step, seeming stunned somehow.
"What could you possibly want from me, huh?" I yelled angrily. "I haven't seen you in a long time! You abandon me after what happened in Saffron City, and now, out of nowhere, you're just back? Who the hell do you think you are?"
June's eyes watered and her lips quivered. "I'm sorry! I just wanted to say I'm sorry!" she cried out and turned away, running.
I watched her for only a second. I didn't want her to leave. I wanted to talk to her. I also didn't want to end up back at the Safari Zone. I had to stop her. I chased after her instantly. She wasn't fast enough and I grabbed her shoulder several seconds later. I turned her around.
"Let go of me!" she screamed. She pushed me away and kept running.
I ran after her again and grabbed her shoulders, turning her around. "Stop it, June!" I yelled.
"Get off of me!" she shouted angrily.
"You shut up and stop acting like a damn child, will you?" I shouted back. "What the hell are you doing out of Gringey City?"
"I left!" June cried, silent tears sliding down her cheeks.
"What? Why? Did you run away again?" I demanded.
"No! I left properly," June said sadly. "I even went to Vermillion City and explained everything to Lt. Surge. I told him I was quitting being a gym leader because I didn't feel good enough. He tried to talk me out of it, and gosh it's hard to resist anything that man says… but I stood my ground. He hugged me and wished me the best. I told everyone in Gringey City I was leaving and they tried to urge me to stay and remain a gym leader, but I refused. It took them a while, and some people are still against it, but everybody supports me nonetheless. So I left."
"You left? For what reason?" I asked.
June stared me deep in my eyes. "You."
"Huh? What do you mean?" I let go of her after realizing I was still holding tightly onto her.
June backed up a couple of steps away and stared at me. "You were arrested, Gary."
I looked at her, squinting against the wind blowing in my face. "You saved my life there," I told her.
"After that phone call I got, I couldn't stop thinking of you," June said, her voice shaking. "I felt like you were in constant danger. I was scared for you, Gary. You could've gone to jail for a very long time! Forever, even! After that occurred, I couldn't get you off of my mind, Gary. I wanted to be with you again, but… I'd abandoned you… I couldn't just…." Her voice trailed off and she kept her eyes to the ground.
"Couldn't just what?" I asked. "I'm not a baby. I can take care of myself. You're not much older than me, June. You're not my mother."
June's eyes met mine. I could see the hurt in them. "I was just…"
I waited for her to finish her sentence.
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry, okay?" June cried. She covered her face with her hands and turned away from me, sobbing openly.
I stared at her, unsure of how to feel of what to say. All I knew was, I hated hearing her cry. I put my hand on her shoulder.
She moved her shoulder, trying to shake me off.
I let go and walked in front of her. I reached out and hugged her tightly.
There was silence. June suddenly began to cry even harder and louder.
I hugged her even tighter hearing this. She huddled close against me and I pulled her in tighter. I rested my chin on top of her head gently.
June, I thought. June….
June pushed away from me, wiping her face. "I'm so sorry, Gary!" she cried loudly. "I left you alone! I never should've done that to you! That killed me leaving you, and like such a coward at that! I hated having to do that! I just suck at goodbyes and that's no excuse. Especially to do that to somebody like you. You saved my life in Saffron, Gary. We've been through a lot even before then! The moment we met was…" She stopped talking.
"June," I said.
She stared silently at me, her eyes glimmering with tears.
"I understand why you left," I told her. I took off my backpack and set it on the ground, unzipping it. I dug around inside and pulled out June's letter. Zipping up my bag, I slung it over one shoulder. I held the letter out to her.
June stared in confusion at the letter. She slowly took it from me and opened up the folded piece of paper. Her mouth opened in shock and her lips began to shake as she reread her own words. The paper fell from her hands and tears fell from her eyes as she looked at me. "I'm so sorry, Gary!" she cried. "You…kept that letter! I must have truly hurt you so badly! I thought you'd have just tossed it out!"
"Why would I do that, June? You had good reason to leave after what happened last time," I said. "I was crazy to keep going, and I guess I still am that I'm still going forward, considering everything that's happened recently."
June stared past me before looking back at me. "What did happen back there, Gary?" June asked. "I had trouble getting through to the Safari Zone trying to find you. I looked everywhere for you, Gary. After the phone call about your arrest, I thought about it and wondered why you were back in Celadon again. So I decided that would be my first place to go and find you, but I couldn't locate you there. I asked Vincent, the gym leader, but he hadn't seen you either. So I remembered you were trying to get to Fuchsia City. I wasn't sure, but I had to do something! Right or wrong, I was desperate to find you! Ozne told me you'd left just the day before after defeating him and were on your way to Dark City, so I took the path through the Big P Pokémon Ranch, but it was blocked off by police! Something about an electric barrier?"
"Team Solace," I explained.
"Team Solace…?" June asked in confusion.
"They're a terrorist organization aimed at killing all Pokémon," I told her. "They think Pokémon are nothing but evil and want them all dead. They'll stop at nothing to fulfill their goal. They've purposely cause Pokémon like Electrode and Golem to explode, just to kill them and destroy buildings in some psychotic attempt to demonstrate how dangerous they are. They're completely out of their minds and want the world to respect them and bow down to their feet after their goal is accomplished. They have to be stopped."
"Electrode…" June muttered, staring at me but not really seeming to be focused on me, her mind elsewhere.
"June?" I said, staring at her. I suddenly remembered she used to own an Electrode. Before I battle it and accidently caused it to explode.
June shook her head and stared at me.
I looked down to the ground. "I'm sorry," I muttered.
"For what?" she asked.
"You know… when we battled and…" I paused.
June's eyes fell to the floor.
We stayed quiet for a while.
"So they did all of that…?" June asked quietly.
I looked up at her. "Huh?"
"Team Silence," June stated.
"Solace?" I asked.
"Right, Solace," June said, shaking her head.
I smiled.
June smiled back.
My smiled faded as I thought about Team Solace, looking up into the sky. "Team Solace set up some kind of powerful invisible electric barrier and then attacked areas of the Pokémon ranch, Pokémon reservation and the Safari Zone. I met the leader, but he and his crooks escaped. I was just about ready to quit being a Pokémon trainer."
"What? Why?" June asked, shocked.
"Because it was getting way too dangerous, June!" I said, my voice rising. "You were right to leave! I should've left, too! I wanted to just be home and be safe during the time Team Solace started attacking this area. I'm only ten!"
"So… you've quit…?" June asked, disappointment deep in her voice.
"No," I told her. "After meeting the Team Solace leader, Isaac, I realized I can't quit. I can't allow such people to spread fear everywhere and think they can just take control. I can't just run away. I have to stay and fight. I won't run anymore. I must prove Pokémon are good. Those guys are the crazy ones. They've been behind all of the attacks in the news. The explosion at Mt. Coronet, Mt. Pyre, The Safari Zone in Hoenn, the electric surges in the waters of the Hoenn region, that's all them!"
"What?" June screamed. "Are you serious?"
"You think I'd be kidding about that?" I asked sharply.
June stared at the ground in shock. "I can't believe it…"
"I'm crazy to keep traveling," I said, glaring at the ground. "I don't know what's wrong with me."
"Absolutely nothing," June said angrily.
I looked up at her.
"You are an amazing person, Gary," June said, glaring at me. "The question is, what's wrong with me? Leaving you like that. I wanted to get closer to Pokémon and once things got crazy, I flaked out. You did the right thing. You did what anybody who truly wants to learn about Pokémon does. You did what anybody who truly loves Pokémon does. You stuck with it and remained dedicated. What we experienced in Saffron was the most craziest thing to have ever happened to me, but it was a learning experience nonetheless! I don't regret it one bit. Even if we had died, I'm glad we tried to help out in some sort of way. Even though it looks like things are completely bonkers in the world now, what with Silph Co. out of action right now…"
"Yeah…" I said. "But we did the right thing. People were just gonna keep on dying who entered that city or challenged that gym. I'm not sure anybody was gonna escape that gym alive."
"I guess," June said.
There was silence between us for a while.
"You're so brave," June said.
I stared at June, then looked away, unsure of what to say.
"I admire that a lot in you," June continued. "Your bravery and your courage. Your dedication. You're not crazy. You're an amazing person, Gary."
"Well, thanks, June," I told her, staring at the ground, embarrassed.
Maybe I wasn't so crazy after all, I thought. Maybe I'm more sane in my crazy decisions than I think.
"Have you spoken to Kiwi?" June asked.
I looked up at her. "No. I don't know where she is."
"Oh my…" June replied. "How about your other friends? Robert? Aly?"
I laughed a little. "Aly is doing okay I guess…" I'm sure she wasn't still in the zoo, I thought. No way. "Robin is… alright too I suppose…"
June laughed now. "Robin, right! You sure don't sound too confident that your friends are okay."
I chuckled a little. "Aly's fine. She just didn't do too well against Ozne and decided to try her hand at a different gym. Robin's okay, too. Just…"
"Squirtle?" June asked.
"Yeah," I said. "He's still having trouble with Catherine."
"Catherine?" June asked.
"Mhm. Robin nicknamed all his Pokémon now," I explained. "Squirtle is now Catherine."
"Why Catherine?"
"She's female and a lot of her personality traits start with the letter 'C.' He says Squirtle shines a lot around me in how 'caring' and 'concerned' and whatever else around me, so he nicknamed her Catherine."
"That was sweet of him," June said softly.
I nodded.
"So… Catherine's still a Squirtle?" June asked. "She hasn't evolved?"
"Maybe. The last time I saw her, when I was in Celadon the second time, she was still a Squirtle."
"Interesting…" June said in a low voice.
I nodded again.
June's attention turned me again, more seriously. She didn't say anything.
I stared back. "June. Did you only come out here to apologize to me?" I asked.
I could see June's breathing getting heavier, her breath visible in the cold air, billowing in front of her. "No," she finally said. "As a matter of fact, Gary, no. I came here because…" She hesitated.
"June, come on now," I said impatiently. "Just spit it out!"
"I want to travel with you again!" June begged.
My eyes bulged out. "What?" I shouted. It didn't really surprise me, and yet, I somehow was surprised!
"Gary, I want to see the world with you some more!" June cried. "I have no right to ask of this, I know. But I still have so much to learn from you! You're just amazing, Gary. I promise I won't desert you like I did in Saffron again. Please, Gary. Please! I…"
I waited for her to finish her sentence.
"I… love, traveling with you," June said. "If you can forgive me, give me one more chance, Gary. But if you don't want me, tell me. I can take it. I'll go. Just, be honest, okay? That's most important to me."
I stared at June for a while. I couldn't see her red hair too well under her hood, but a few strands were visible.
We stared at each other for what seemed almost thirty minutes.
June suddenly smiled. "Thanks anyway, Gary. I appreciate the time we had together. Thank you. Again, I'm sorry for ever leaving you. I understand your feelings towards me, though. I sincerely apologize to you. Take care." She finished her sentence and closed her mouth. Her mouth opened again, but she closed it and turned around swiftly, heading back to the Safari Zone.
I watched her walk away. I considered saying something, considered calling something out to her, but decided it'd be best if I didn't. It hurt my heart watching her leave, especially without me saying so much as goodbye to her, but with a deep breath, I turned around and walked away, too.
My heart beat fast, hard, in my chest as I walked. I didn't even know what to think to or of myself. I just kept walking.
To Dark City, I thought to myself.
I stopped walking and turned back around. "A three on three Pokémon battle!" I shouted.
June was several feet away from me. She stopped and turned around.
I could clearly see her eyes were filled with tears. "Huh?" she asked in surprise.
"Deal?"
"For what?" she asked.
"We battled last time and you decided to join me afterwards, right?" I asked with a smile. "Let's try it again."
June gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. As her hands lowered, she smiled eagerly. "Oh, Gary!" she exclaimed excitedly.
"Ok, let's begin!" I shouted, throwing my Poké Ball. "Baltoy, I choose you!"
"Baltooooooooy!" Baltoy sang out, spinning in place.
"Oh, how adorable! A Baltoy!" June cried out, clapping. "When did you catch this little cutie?"
"Remember our trip to Saffron? We were on that mountain and we got separate and ran into several Psychic type Pokémon," I told her.
June shuddered. "I remember that."
"Well, this is the Pokémon I captured there."
"It's such a cutie!" June gushed. "Okay, well, let me see." June dropped her long bag to the ground and dug around in it before standing up again. She smiled, and then held out a Poké Ball. She threw it eagerly. "Gooooo!"
"Eeeeveeee!" an adorable little Pokémon said, smiling up at Baltoy.
Baltoy began immediately spinning circles around Eevee.
Eevee started looking dizzy.
"I never knew you had an Eevee, June," I said, smiling.
"Isn't she just a doll?" June said with a wide smile.
"Alright, let's begin!" I said. "June, you may have the first move."
June nodded. "Eevee! Bite attack!"
"Veeee!" Eevee leaped at the spinning Baltoy and sunk her teeth into it.
"Toy Toy Toooooy!" Baltoy cried out.
"Rapid Spin!" I called.
"Toooooooooooy!" Baltoy sang, spinning rapidly in place.
"VEEEEEE!" Eevee screeched, clinging on for dear life by her teeth before being flung being flung from Baltoy and right into a tree, headfirst. As Eevee bounced off the tree, Baltoy threw itself into the air and smashed into Eevee, throwing Eevee right back into the tree again, headfirst.
Baltoy landed easily on the ground and slowed its spinning to a stop.
Eevee slid down the tree trunk and didn't move.
"My baby!" June yelled shrilly. June ran to Eevee and picked her up. "My poor baby, are you okay? You did well, sweetie. Come on back to your Poké Ball." She kissed Eevee on the forehead and returned her to her Poké Ball. She stomped back over to her spot and glared at me. "So you wanna play rough, huh?" She dug into her bag furiously, searching for her next Poké Ball.
"June, I was only…" I started.
"Oh no no no no no," June interrupted. "I'll give you a battle if that's what you want!" June stood up, fire in her eyes. Despite it being very cold outside, June pulled off her hood and shook her head, her long, beautiful hair flowing about her face. She brushed it aside. In her right hand was a Poké Ball. She glared at me, then looked over at the Poké Ball.
I could've sworn a look of uncertainty was on her face for a moment. She turned to me with a look of determination. "I choose you!"
The Poké Ball popped open and the Pokémon towered over Baltoy.
"ELECTIVIIIIIIIIRE!!!" it screamed, flexing its muscles.
"Whoa!" I exclaimed, pulling out my Pokédex.
Electivire. The Thunderbolt Pokémon and the evolved form of Electabuzz. This Pokémon is known to be very reckless both while attacking and even when taking damage from opponents. They tend to go in close to opponents and then strike with their tails, loosing over 20,000 volts of electricity.
"I didn't even know Electabuzz evolved…" I muttered. "No matter. Electricity won't help you here against my Ground type Pokémon."
"Baltoooooooy!" Baltoy cried out, spinning around Electivire.
"Virrrrrre…" Electivire growled, eyeing Baltoy. Electivire started to glow white, and with one swift hit, punched Baltoy, sending it flying into the air.
"Tooooooooooooy!" Baltoy screamed, flying high.
"Baltoy!" I cried out.
"Electivire!" June shouted angrily. "Baltoy was only saying hi to you! And I never said to use Strength attack!"
I stared at June for a second and smiled. There goes her ability to read Pokémon, I thought.
"Baaaaaaaaaaaaaal!" Baltoy screamed, falling back down.
"Vire…" Electivire said in a low voice, watching Baltoy carefully.
"Electivire, stop it!" June screamed.
Electivire leaped into the air, one fist glowing light blue. It pulled the fist back and swung hard at Baltoy. On impact, Baltoy started to become coated in ice.
"It's Ice Punch!" I exclaimed.
"Baaaaaltoy!" Baltoy cried out.
"Lectivire!" Electivire said, landing on the ground.
Baltoy, a frozen block of ice, hit the ground. The ice around it shattered, but Baltoy remained on the ground.
"Electivire, that was mean!" June shouted at Electivire.
"Vire Electivire!" Electivire shouted at me, ignoring June, punching its fists together, seeming ready for another battle.
"That is enough!" June shouted, walked up behind Electivire. "This isn't about you winning battles, Electivire! I get it, okay? You're big bad Mr. Tough Electric Type. Congratulations! My gosh! You used to be so well behaved! If all I wanted was to win, I'd just let you do whatever you wanted! I want to win as a team! Does that word mean anything to you? Huh? TEEEEEAM?"
"VIRE!" the balls on the end of Electivire's antennae sparked with electricity before the sparks zapped backwards and hit June, who screeched out loud. When the attack ended, June collapsed to the floor.
I gasped. "What do you think you're doing, Electivire?" I shouted angrily. "You can't attack June like that!"
"VIRE! ELECTIVIRE!" Electivire yelled at me.
What's going on here? I wondered. June can read Pokémon. Why can't she control her Electivire?
Electivire took a step towards me.
"Oh yeah? You wanna battle?" I said angrily. "Fine! I choose you, Primeape!"
"Priiiiime Ape Ape Ape!" Primeape bounced in place eagerly. "PRRRRIIIIIME!" Primeape yelled at Electivire.
"LECTIVIRE!" Electivire yelled, swinging a sparking fist at Primeape suddenly.
Primeape cried out as the ThunderPunch hit, tossing him towards me.
I caught Primeape, but the force threw me back several feet, landing me on my back.
Primeape hopped up off of me and shook his head.
"Primeape, you okay?" I asked him, sitting up.
"APE APE!" Primeape nodded, and charged at Electivire.
"Thrash attack!" I shouted.
Primeape screeched and leaped into the air, pulling back a fist and swinging on Electivire, punching and kicking and knocking Electivire over.
Electivire's tails reached out from behind it and wrapped around Primeape as Electivire continued to fall down. Electivire used one of its massive hands to land on the ground, and then it pushed itself back up to its feet.
"Electivire!" I heard June scream. She was sitting up, her hand on her head, staring in shock. "Gary, why are you battling this thing?"
"What else was I supposed to do?" I asked.
"VIIIIIRE!" Electivire's body started glowing with yellow sparks as Primeape screamed as its body was shocked with electricity.
"Electivire, stop using Thunder!" June pleaded. "Gary, return your Primeape, please!"
"Why?" I yelled. "We can-"
Electivire flung Primeape at me, knocking me over again.
Primeape didn't hop off of me this time.
"Primeape?" I gasped, sitting up, Primeape sprawled out on my lap.
Primeape was beaten.
"Primeape!" I cried out. "You did well, Primeape. Thank you!" I returned him to his Poké Ball and stood up, grabbing my last Poké Ball.
"Gary, just stop it!" June pleaded.
"This was a three on three battle, right?" I asked. "Then I'm going all the way."
"But Gary, please, just listen to me!" June begged. "Please, just stop battling with him!"
"He isn't invincible!" I shouted. "I can beat this thing!"
"I know he isn't invincible, Gary, but please, let's not do this! Please!"
I ignored her. "Charmeleon, let's do this!" I yelled.
"CHAAAAAAAR!!!!" Charmeleon fired a flame into the air, flexing his arms.
Charmeleon's eager attitude inspired me and sent a fire through me, warming me up and encouraging me. "Charmeleon, let's win this one! Flamethrower!"
"MEEEEEEELEOOOOOOOOOON!" Charmeleon used Flamethrower.
Electivire sat on the ground calmly and crossed his legs, his hands placed gently in his lap. He closed his eyes and let the fire consume him!
"What?" I said in shock.
"Gary, don't!" June shouted.
When the Flamethrower was over, Electivire continued to sit there patiently, eyes closed.
"What? Is it saying we're weak?" I asked angrily. "Charmeleon, show it some real strength! Fire Fang!"
Charmeleon leaped onto Electivire, who remained motionless, and sunk his fire coated teeth into Electivire, the fire engulfing Electivire instantly. After a minute, Charmeleon let go of Electivire and growled.
The fire surrounding Electivire faded and Electivire remained in his position.
"Flame Burst!" I yelled angrily.
Charmeleon used Flame Burst, shooting streams of fire from his mouth which formed a ball and exploded, coating Electivire in flames.
Electivire remained as calm as ever.
"What is going on here?" I shouted angrily.
"You don't listen, do you, Gary," June said sadly, shaking her head.
"What is Electivire doing?" I asked.
June merely sighed.
"Another Flamethrower!" I shouted. "Don't let up on it either!"
"CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRR!" Charmeleon let out one of the strongest looking Flamethrower attacks I'd ever seen it do without the boost from Sunny Day.
I stood there, watching as Electivire was coated in flames. He didn't make a single noise. Not a cry, or a screech. He just sat there. "Tiiiiiiiivire!!!!!" I finally heard Electivire scream out.
"YES!" I shouted out. "We've got him now, Charmeleon!"
When Charmeleon's Flamethrower finally ended, Electivire was standing up and outlined in a very bright, white glow.
"Whoa!" I exclaimed. "What happened to it?"
"Meditate, Gary," June said sadly.
"I don't wanna meditate!" I snapped. "I'm calm! I'm just asking what is wrong with your Pokémon! It's glowing white!"
"The move is called Meditate, you idiot!" June snapped back. "Electivire has maxed out its Attack stat because it was using Meditate all this time!"
"Really…?" was all I could manage to say in my shock.
"VIIIIRE!" Electivire ran at Charmeleon at socked him with ThunderPunch.
"MEEEEEEEEEEL!" Charmeleon yelled out, slamming to the ground.
"Charmeleon!" I screamed.
Charmeleon looked up and struggled to push itself up. "Meeeel…" Charmeleon got up, visibly shocking Electivire, June, as well as myself. Charmeleon's tail flashed in a powerful blaze of fire in front of us. His body was outline in a fiery red aura.
"Blaze ability!" I cheered. "Let's see your Electivire take this! Flamethrower, full force!"
"Chaaaaaaaaaar!!!!" Charmeleon opened its jaws to use Flamethrower. "Meeeel…" Charmeleon collapsed to the ground, the fiery aura fading away, Charmeleon's tail flame dying down to normal.
I gasped.
June gasped.
Electivire punched its fists together eagerly.
I stared at Charmeleon.
We all were.
I let out my breath shakily, feeling like I'd been holding in for an hour. "Return, and thank you," I said, returning Charmeleon to his Poké Ball.
"Electivire!" Electivire cheered, the balls on his antennas sparking and his entire body glowing with electricity. The antennas started firing random jolts of electricity everywhere.
June and I cried out, jumping and dodging around the electric waves.
"You win, Electivire! The end!" June cried out. "Return!"
Electivire was returned to his Poké Ball.
June and I collapsed to the ground in exhaustion, panting heavily.
"What is wrong with that thing?" I asked.
June didn't reply. She just kept trying to catch her breath.
After several minutes, June turned to look at me and smiled. "So, am I in?"
I couldn't help but laugh. "Welcome back, June."
June crawled over to me and hugged me.
"Okay, okay, June," I said, gently pushing her away.
"Mean," she said, gently punching my arm.
"It may not obey you, but at least it fights," a voice said from nearby.
June and I turned quickly to see who it was.
"Robin!" June and I exclaimed in shock.
Robin stared down at us, wearing a thick black coat with a hood over his head, his hands at his side. His white sneakers looked fresh and new and looked nice against what seemed to be a fresh pair of blue jeans. "What a surprise. Nice to see you again, June," he said to her solemnly.
June stared at him silently, in shock. She finally nodded. "Hello, Robin!"
Robin turned to me, his eyes tightening. "You and me, Gary. One on one. Catherine versus something else in your party other than Charmeleon. I'm thinking maybe she's just too close to your Charmeleon. Maybe it isn't all about you after all. What do you say?"
I stared at him in disbelief.
I smiled.
"Then let the battle begin!"
I stared at the person.
That person stared back at me silently.
The wind blew hard suddenly, causing me to tighten my coat around me, digging my hands into my pockets deeper.
Nothing could be heard besides the heavy blowing from the wind.
We both stared at each other until the wind stopped blowing so hard. When it ended a long time later, there was nothing but silence to be heard. Neither of us was saying a word to each other.
I finally wanted to say something, but I couldn't think of any words to say. I assumed the person I was staring at was in the same predicament.
So we just stared at each other, not moving, the wind returning again, blowing a little more gently than before.
"Why are you here?" I asked, tired of the silence, tired of just standing here, doing nothing.
Their mouth opened, but they stayed silent for a moment. "Gary."
"I know my name," I snapped. "What are you doing here?"
I could see fear in their eyes now.
Silence.
My patience was wearing thin. I kept silent and kept my eyes straight ahead on their eyes as the stare was returned back, only less harsh. I was glaring coldly.
The eyes that stared back at me were much softer, caring, sad, concerned, fearful.
I couldn't believe who I was staring at. Who knows how long it's been. Why here? Why now? Why at all?
Dressed for the occasion in tall red boots and tight white jeans, a big red winter coat on zipped up with the hood pulled tight on their head, cover a lot of their face I could still recognize, we continued to eye each other like cowboys do in a Western movie before shooting the other one down. A large bag was slung over their shoulder.
The wind began to blow even harder, howling loudly, disrupting the silence.
I stood my ground against the sudden, strong gust.
I watched this individual huddle closer against the wind. Their eyes closed, and remained closed, even after the wind stopped blowing, clearly afraid to look up at me.
I waited for the eyes to open.
They did. Very slowly, very carefully, very cautiously, as if there was some fear that I might be there to strike them.
I didn't want to stand here all day. "I don't know why you're here," I finally said. "I have things to do. If you don't have anything to say, I have to get going. If you have something to say, I suggest you say it now because I'm not gonna just be waiting here forever. What do you want?"
I saw the lips part open to speak, but no sound came out. After a swallow and a gentle clearing of the throat, the lips parted again to speak, but nothing came out again.
I waited, my eyes glaring colder as more time passed by.
I watched the eyes closed and a deep breath was taken. Then another. Then another. The eyes opened again and I stared into them, waiting. A tongue came out from between the lips, licking them, preparing to speak. Another deep breath was taken. Another deep breath followed that one. Another followed behind that one.
My teeth grit with impatience. My fists tightened with anger. I'd waited long enough. "I have to go," I said, turning to leave.
"Gary, wait!" the cry reached me, stopping me.
I turned around angrily. "Wait for what, June?" I shouted.
At her name, she backed up a step, seeming stunned somehow.
"What could you possibly want from me, huh?" I yelled angrily. "I haven't seen you in a long time! You abandon me after what happened in Saffron City, and now, out of nowhere, you're just back? Who the hell do you think you are?"
June's eyes watered and her lips quivered. "I'm sorry! I just wanted to say I'm sorry!" she cried out and turned away, running.
I watched her for only a second. I didn't want her to leave. I wanted to talk to her. I also didn't want to end up back at the Safari Zone. I had to stop her. I chased after her instantly. She wasn't fast enough and I grabbed her shoulder several seconds later. I turned her around.
"Let go of me!" she screamed. She pushed me away and kept running.
I ran after her again and grabbed her shoulders, turning her around. "Stop it, June!" I yelled.
"Get off of me!" she shouted angrily.
"You shut up and stop acting like a damn child, will you?" I shouted back. "What the hell are you doing out of Gringey City?"
"I left!" June cried, silent tears sliding down her cheeks.
"What? Why? Did you run away again?" I demanded.
"No! I left properly," June said sadly. "I even went to Vermillion City and explained everything to Lt. Surge. I told him I was quitting being a gym leader because I didn't feel good enough. He tried to talk me out of it, and gosh it's hard to resist anything that man says… but I stood my ground. He hugged me and wished me the best. I told everyone in Gringey City I was leaving and they tried to urge me to stay and remain a gym leader, but I refused. It took them a while, and some people are still against it, but everybody supports me nonetheless. So I left."
"You left? For what reason?" I asked.
June stared me deep in my eyes. "You."
"Huh? What do you mean?" I let go of her after realizing I was still holding tightly onto her.
June backed up a couple of steps away and stared at me. "You were arrested, Gary."
I looked at her, squinting against the wind blowing in my face. "You saved my life there," I told her.
"After that phone call I got, I couldn't stop thinking of you," June said, her voice shaking. "I felt like you were in constant danger. I was scared for you, Gary. You could've gone to jail for a very long time! Forever, even! After that occurred, I couldn't get you off of my mind, Gary. I wanted to be with you again, but… I'd abandoned you… I couldn't just…." Her voice trailed off and she kept her eyes to the ground.
"Couldn't just what?" I asked. "I'm not a baby. I can take care of myself. You're not much older than me, June. You're not my mother."
June's eyes met mine. I could see the hurt in them. "I was just…"
I waited for her to finish her sentence.
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry, okay?" June cried. She covered her face with her hands and turned away from me, sobbing openly.
I stared at her, unsure of how to feel of what to say. All I knew was, I hated hearing her cry. I put my hand on her shoulder.
She moved her shoulder, trying to shake me off.
I let go and walked in front of her. I reached out and hugged her tightly.
There was silence. June suddenly began to cry even harder and louder.
I hugged her even tighter hearing this. She huddled close against me and I pulled her in tighter. I rested my chin on top of her head gently.
June, I thought. June….
June pushed away from me, wiping her face. "I'm so sorry, Gary!" she cried loudly. "I left you alone! I never should've done that to you! That killed me leaving you, and like such a coward at that! I hated having to do that! I just suck at goodbyes and that's no excuse. Especially to do that to somebody like you. You saved my life in Saffron, Gary. We've been through a lot even before then! The moment we met was…" She stopped talking.
"June," I said.
She stared silently at me, her eyes glimmering with tears.
"I understand why you left," I told her. I took off my backpack and set it on the ground, unzipping it. I dug around inside and pulled out June's letter. Zipping up my bag, I slung it over one shoulder. I held the letter out to her.
June stared in confusion at the letter. She slowly took it from me and opened up the folded piece of paper. Her mouth opened in shock and her lips began to shake as she reread her own words. The paper fell from her hands and tears fell from her eyes as she looked at me. "I'm so sorry, Gary!" she cried. "You…kept that letter! I must have truly hurt you so badly! I thought you'd have just tossed it out!"
"Why would I do that, June? You had good reason to leave after what happened last time," I said. "I was crazy to keep going, and I guess I still am that I'm still going forward, considering everything that's happened recently."
June stared past me before looking back at me. "What did happen back there, Gary?" June asked. "I had trouble getting through to the Safari Zone trying to find you. I looked everywhere for you, Gary. After the phone call about your arrest, I thought about it and wondered why you were back in Celadon again. So I decided that would be my first place to go and find you, but I couldn't locate you there. I asked Vincent, the gym leader, but he hadn't seen you either. So I remembered you were trying to get to Fuchsia City. I wasn't sure, but I had to do something! Right or wrong, I was desperate to find you! Ozne told me you'd left just the day before after defeating him and were on your way to Dark City, so I took the path through the Big P Pokémon Ranch, but it was blocked off by police! Something about an electric barrier?"
"Team Solace," I explained.
"Team Solace…?" June asked in confusion.
"They're a terrorist organization aimed at killing all Pokémon," I told her. "They think Pokémon are nothing but evil and want them all dead. They'll stop at nothing to fulfill their goal. They've purposely cause Pokémon like Electrode and Golem to explode, just to kill them and destroy buildings in some psychotic attempt to demonstrate how dangerous they are. They're completely out of their minds and want the world to respect them and bow down to their feet after their goal is accomplished. They have to be stopped."
"Electrode…" June muttered, staring at me but not really seeming to be focused on me, her mind elsewhere.
"June?" I said, staring at her. I suddenly remembered she used to own an Electrode. Before I battle it and accidently caused it to explode.
June shook her head and stared at me.
I looked down to the ground. "I'm sorry," I muttered.
"For what?" she asked.
"You know… when we battled and…" I paused.
June's eyes fell to the floor.
We stayed quiet for a while.
"So they did all of that…?" June asked quietly.
I looked up at her. "Huh?"
"Team Silence," June stated.
"Solace?" I asked.
"Right, Solace," June said, shaking her head.
I smiled.
June smiled back.
My smiled faded as I thought about Team Solace, looking up into the sky. "Team Solace set up some kind of powerful invisible electric barrier and then attacked areas of the Pokémon ranch, Pokémon reservation and the Safari Zone. I met the leader, but he and his crooks escaped. I was just about ready to quit being a Pokémon trainer."
"What? Why?" June asked, shocked.
"Because it was getting way too dangerous, June!" I said, my voice rising. "You were right to leave! I should've left, too! I wanted to just be home and be safe during the time Team Solace started attacking this area. I'm only ten!"
"So… you've quit…?" June asked, disappointment deep in her voice.
"No," I told her. "After meeting the Team Solace leader, Isaac, I realized I can't quit. I can't allow such people to spread fear everywhere and think they can just take control. I can't just run away. I have to stay and fight. I won't run anymore. I must prove Pokémon are good. Those guys are the crazy ones. They've been behind all of the attacks in the news. The explosion at Mt. Coronet, Mt. Pyre, The Safari Zone in Hoenn, the electric surges in the waters of the Hoenn region, that's all them!"
"What?" June screamed. "Are you serious?"
"You think I'd be kidding about that?" I asked sharply.
June stared at the ground in shock. "I can't believe it…"
"I'm crazy to keep traveling," I said, glaring at the ground. "I don't know what's wrong with me."
"Absolutely nothing," June said angrily.
I looked up at her.
"You are an amazing person, Gary," June said, glaring at me. "The question is, what's wrong with me? Leaving you like that. I wanted to get closer to Pokémon and once things got crazy, I flaked out. You did the right thing. You did what anybody who truly wants to learn about Pokémon does. You did what anybody who truly loves Pokémon does. You stuck with it and remained dedicated. What we experienced in Saffron was the most craziest thing to have ever happened to me, but it was a learning experience nonetheless! I don't regret it one bit. Even if we had died, I'm glad we tried to help out in some sort of way. Even though it looks like things are completely bonkers in the world now, what with Silph Co. out of action right now…"
"Yeah…" I said. "But we did the right thing. People were just gonna keep on dying who entered that city or challenged that gym. I'm not sure anybody was gonna escape that gym alive."
"I guess," June said.
There was silence between us for a while.
"You're so brave," June said.
I stared at June, then looked away, unsure of what to say.
"I admire that a lot in you," June continued. "Your bravery and your courage. Your dedication. You're not crazy. You're an amazing person, Gary."
"Well, thanks, June," I told her, staring at the ground, embarrassed.
Maybe I wasn't so crazy after all, I thought. Maybe I'm more sane in my crazy decisions than I think.
"Have you spoken to Kiwi?" June asked.
I looked up at her. "No. I don't know where she is."
"Oh my…" June replied. "How about your other friends? Robert? Aly?"
I laughed a little. "Aly is doing okay I guess…" I'm sure she wasn't still in the zoo, I thought. No way. "Robin is… alright too I suppose…"
June laughed now. "Robin, right! You sure don't sound too confident that your friends are okay."
I chuckled a little. "Aly's fine. She just didn't do too well against Ozne and decided to try her hand at a different gym. Robin's okay, too. Just…"
"Squirtle?" June asked.
"Yeah," I said. "He's still having trouble with Catherine."
"Catherine?" June asked.
"Mhm. Robin nicknamed all his Pokémon now," I explained. "Squirtle is now Catherine."
"Why Catherine?"
"She's female and a lot of her personality traits start with the letter 'C.' He says Squirtle shines a lot around me in how 'caring' and 'concerned' and whatever else around me, so he nicknamed her Catherine."
"That was sweet of him," June said softly.
I nodded.
"So… Catherine's still a Squirtle?" June asked. "She hasn't evolved?"
"Maybe. The last time I saw her, when I was in Celadon the second time, she was still a Squirtle."
"Interesting…" June said in a low voice.
I nodded again.
June's attention turned me again, more seriously. She didn't say anything.
I stared back. "June. Did you only come out here to apologize to me?" I asked.
I could see June's breathing getting heavier, her breath visible in the cold air, billowing in front of her. "No," she finally said. "As a matter of fact, Gary, no. I came here because…" She hesitated.
"June, come on now," I said impatiently. "Just spit it out!"
"I want to travel with you again!" June begged.
My eyes bulged out. "What?" I shouted. It didn't really surprise me, and yet, I somehow was surprised!
"Gary, I want to see the world with you some more!" June cried. "I have no right to ask of this, I know. But I still have so much to learn from you! You're just amazing, Gary. I promise I won't desert you like I did in Saffron again. Please, Gary. Please! I…"
I waited for her to finish her sentence.
"I… love, traveling with you," June said. "If you can forgive me, give me one more chance, Gary. But if you don't want me, tell me. I can take it. I'll go. Just, be honest, okay? That's most important to me."
I stared at June for a while. I couldn't see her red hair too well under her hood, but a few strands were visible.
We stared at each other for what seemed almost thirty minutes.
June suddenly smiled. "Thanks anyway, Gary. I appreciate the time we had together. Thank you. Again, I'm sorry for ever leaving you. I understand your feelings towards me, though. I sincerely apologize to you. Take care." She finished her sentence and closed her mouth. Her mouth opened again, but she closed it and turned around swiftly, heading back to the Safari Zone.
I watched her walk away. I considered saying something, considered calling something out to her, but decided it'd be best if I didn't. It hurt my heart watching her leave, especially without me saying so much as goodbye to her, but with a deep breath, I turned around and walked away, too.
My heart beat fast, hard, in my chest as I walked. I didn't even know what to think to or of myself. I just kept walking.
To Dark City, I thought to myself.
I stopped walking and turned back around. "A three on three Pokémon battle!" I shouted.
June was several feet away from me. She stopped and turned around.
I could clearly see her eyes were filled with tears. "Huh?" she asked in surprise.
"Deal?"
"For what?" she asked.
"We battled last time and you decided to join me afterwards, right?" I asked with a smile. "Let's try it again."
June gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. As her hands lowered, she smiled eagerly. "Oh, Gary!" she exclaimed excitedly.
"Ok, let's begin!" I shouted, throwing my Poké Ball. "Baltoy, I choose you!"
"Baltooooooooy!" Baltoy sang out, spinning in place.
"Oh, how adorable! A Baltoy!" June cried out, clapping. "When did you catch this little cutie?"
"Remember our trip to Saffron? We were on that mountain and we got separate and ran into several Psychic type Pokémon," I told her.
June shuddered. "I remember that."
"Well, this is the Pokémon I captured there."
"It's such a cutie!" June gushed. "Okay, well, let me see." June dropped her long bag to the ground and dug around in it before standing up again. She smiled, and then held out a Poké Ball. She threw it eagerly. "Gooooo!"
"Eeeeveeee!" an adorable little Pokémon said, smiling up at Baltoy.
Baltoy began immediately spinning circles around Eevee.
Eevee started looking dizzy.
"I never knew you had an Eevee, June," I said, smiling.
"Isn't she just a doll?" June said with a wide smile.
"Alright, let's begin!" I said. "June, you may have the first move."
June nodded. "Eevee! Bite attack!"
"Veeee!" Eevee leaped at the spinning Baltoy and sunk her teeth into it.
"Toy Toy Toooooy!" Baltoy cried out.
"Rapid Spin!" I called.
"Toooooooooooy!" Baltoy sang, spinning rapidly in place.
"VEEEEEE!" Eevee screeched, clinging on for dear life by her teeth before being flung being flung from Baltoy and right into a tree, headfirst. As Eevee bounced off the tree, Baltoy threw itself into the air and smashed into Eevee, throwing Eevee right back into the tree again, headfirst.
Baltoy landed easily on the ground and slowed its spinning to a stop.
Eevee slid down the tree trunk and didn't move.
"My baby!" June yelled shrilly. June ran to Eevee and picked her up. "My poor baby, are you okay? You did well, sweetie. Come on back to your Poké Ball." She kissed Eevee on the forehead and returned her to her Poké Ball. She stomped back over to her spot and glared at me. "So you wanna play rough, huh?" She dug into her bag furiously, searching for her next Poké Ball.
"June, I was only…" I started.
"Oh no no no no no," June interrupted. "I'll give you a battle if that's what you want!" June stood up, fire in her eyes. Despite it being very cold outside, June pulled off her hood and shook her head, her long, beautiful hair flowing about her face. She brushed it aside. In her right hand was a Poké Ball. She glared at me, then looked over at the Poké Ball.
I could've sworn a look of uncertainty was on her face for a moment. She turned to me with a look of determination. "I choose you!"
The Poké Ball popped open and the Pokémon towered over Baltoy.
"ELECTIVIIIIIIIIRE!!!" it screamed, flexing its muscles.
"Whoa!" I exclaimed, pulling out my Pokédex.
Electivire. The Thunderbolt Pokémon and the evolved form of Electabuzz. This Pokémon is known to be very reckless both while attacking and even when taking damage from opponents. They tend to go in close to opponents and then strike with their tails, loosing over 20,000 volts of electricity.
"I didn't even know Electabuzz evolved…" I muttered. "No matter. Electricity won't help you here against my Ground type Pokémon."
"Baltoooooooy!" Baltoy cried out, spinning around Electivire.
"Virrrrrre…" Electivire growled, eyeing Baltoy. Electivire started to glow white, and with one swift hit, punched Baltoy, sending it flying into the air.
"Tooooooooooooy!" Baltoy screamed, flying high.
"Baltoy!" I cried out.
"Electivire!" June shouted angrily. "Baltoy was only saying hi to you! And I never said to use Strength attack!"
I stared at June for a second and smiled. There goes her ability to read Pokémon, I thought.
"Baaaaaaaaaaaaaal!" Baltoy screamed, falling back down.
"Vire…" Electivire said in a low voice, watching Baltoy carefully.
"Electivire, stop it!" June screamed.
Electivire leaped into the air, one fist glowing light blue. It pulled the fist back and swung hard at Baltoy. On impact, Baltoy started to become coated in ice.
"It's Ice Punch!" I exclaimed.
"Baaaaaltoy!" Baltoy cried out.
"Lectivire!" Electivire said, landing on the ground.
Baltoy, a frozen block of ice, hit the ground. The ice around it shattered, but Baltoy remained on the ground.
"Electivire, that was mean!" June shouted at Electivire.
"Vire Electivire!" Electivire shouted at me, ignoring June, punching its fists together, seeming ready for another battle.
"That is enough!" June shouted, walked up behind Electivire. "This isn't about you winning battles, Electivire! I get it, okay? You're big bad Mr. Tough Electric Type. Congratulations! My gosh! You used to be so well behaved! If all I wanted was to win, I'd just let you do whatever you wanted! I want to win as a team! Does that word mean anything to you? Huh? TEEEEEAM?"
"VIRE!" the balls on the end of Electivire's antennae sparked with electricity before the sparks zapped backwards and hit June, who screeched out loud. When the attack ended, June collapsed to the floor.
I gasped. "What do you think you're doing, Electivire?" I shouted angrily. "You can't attack June like that!"
"VIRE! ELECTIVIRE!" Electivire yelled at me.
What's going on here? I wondered. June can read Pokémon. Why can't she control her Electivire?
Electivire took a step towards me.
"Oh yeah? You wanna battle?" I said angrily. "Fine! I choose you, Primeape!"
"Priiiiime Ape Ape Ape!" Primeape bounced in place eagerly. "PRRRRIIIIIME!" Primeape yelled at Electivire.
"LECTIVIRE!" Electivire yelled, swinging a sparking fist at Primeape suddenly.
Primeape cried out as the ThunderPunch hit, tossing him towards me.
I caught Primeape, but the force threw me back several feet, landing me on my back.
Primeape hopped up off of me and shook his head.
"Primeape, you okay?" I asked him, sitting up.
"APE APE!" Primeape nodded, and charged at Electivire.
"Thrash attack!" I shouted.
Primeape screeched and leaped into the air, pulling back a fist and swinging on Electivire, punching and kicking and knocking Electivire over.
Electivire's tails reached out from behind it and wrapped around Primeape as Electivire continued to fall down. Electivire used one of its massive hands to land on the ground, and then it pushed itself back up to its feet.
"Electivire!" I heard June scream. She was sitting up, her hand on her head, staring in shock. "Gary, why are you battling this thing?"
"What else was I supposed to do?" I asked.
"VIIIIIRE!" Electivire's body started glowing with yellow sparks as Primeape screamed as its body was shocked with electricity.
"Electivire, stop using Thunder!" June pleaded. "Gary, return your Primeape, please!"
"Why?" I yelled. "We can-"
Electivire flung Primeape at me, knocking me over again.
Primeape didn't hop off of me this time.
"Primeape?" I gasped, sitting up, Primeape sprawled out on my lap.
Primeape was beaten.
"Primeape!" I cried out. "You did well, Primeape. Thank you!" I returned him to his Poké Ball and stood up, grabbing my last Poké Ball.
"Gary, just stop it!" June pleaded.
"This was a three on three battle, right?" I asked. "Then I'm going all the way."
"But Gary, please, just listen to me!" June begged. "Please, just stop battling with him!"
"He isn't invincible!" I shouted. "I can beat this thing!"
"I know he isn't invincible, Gary, but please, let's not do this! Please!"
I ignored her. "Charmeleon, let's do this!" I yelled.
"CHAAAAAAAR!!!!" Charmeleon fired a flame into the air, flexing his arms.
Charmeleon's eager attitude inspired me and sent a fire through me, warming me up and encouraging me. "Charmeleon, let's win this one! Flamethrower!"
"MEEEEEEELEOOOOOOOOOON!" Charmeleon used Flamethrower.
Electivire sat on the ground calmly and crossed his legs, his hands placed gently in his lap. He closed his eyes and let the fire consume him!
"What?" I said in shock.
"Gary, don't!" June shouted.
When the Flamethrower was over, Electivire continued to sit there patiently, eyes closed.
"What? Is it saying we're weak?" I asked angrily. "Charmeleon, show it some real strength! Fire Fang!"
Charmeleon leaped onto Electivire, who remained motionless, and sunk his fire coated teeth into Electivire, the fire engulfing Electivire instantly. After a minute, Charmeleon let go of Electivire and growled.
The fire surrounding Electivire faded and Electivire remained in his position.
"Flame Burst!" I yelled angrily.
Charmeleon used Flame Burst, shooting streams of fire from his mouth which formed a ball and exploded, coating Electivire in flames.
Electivire remained as calm as ever.
"What is going on here?" I shouted angrily.
"You don't listen, do you, Gary," June said sadly, shaking her head.
"What is Electivire doing?" I asked.
June merely sighed.
"Another Flamethrower!" I shouted. "Don't let up on it either!"
"CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRR!" Charmeleon let out one of the strongest looking Flamethrower attacks I'd ever seen it do without the boost from Sunny Day.
I stood there, watching as Electivire was coated in flames. He didn't make a single noise. Not a cry, or a screech. He just sat there. "Tiiiiiiiivire!!!!!" I finally heard Electivire scream out.
"YES!" I shouted out. "We've got him now, Charmeleon!"
When Charmeleon's Flamethrower finally ended, Electivire was standing up and outlined in a very bright, white glow.
"Whoa!" I exclaimed. "What happened to it?"
"Meditate, Gary," June said sadly.
"I don't wanna meditate!" I snapped. "I'm calm! I'm just asking what is wrong with your Pokémon! It's glowing white!"
"The move is called Meditate, you idiot!" June snapped back. "Electivire has maxed out its Attack stat because it was using Meditate all this time!"
"Really…?" was all I could manage to say in my shock.
"VIIIIRE!" Electivire ran at Charmeleon at socked him with ThunderPunch.
"MEEEEEEEEEEL!" Charmeleon yelled out, slamming to the ground.
"Charmeleon!" I screamed.
Charmeleon looked up and struggled to push itself up. "Meeeel…" Charmeleon got up, visibly shocking Electivire, June, as well as myself. Charmeleon's tail flashed in a powerful blaze of fire in front of us. His body was outline in a fiery red aura.
"Blaze ability!" I cheered. "Let's see your Electivire take this! Flamethrower, full force!"
"Chaaaaaaaaaar!!!!" Charmeleon opened its jaws to use Flamethrower. "Meeeel…" Charmeleon collapsed to the ground, the fiery aura fading away, Charmeleon's tail flame dying down to normal.
I gasped.
June gasped.
Electivire punched its fists together eagerly.
I stared at Charmeleon.
We all were.
I let out my breath shakily, feeling like I'd been holding in for an hour. "Return, and thank you," I said, returning Charmeleon to his Poké Ball.
"Electivire!" Electivire cheered, the balls on his antennas sparking and his entire body glowing with electricity. The antennas started firing random jolts of electricity everywhere.
June and I cried out, jumping and dodging around the electric waves.
"You win, Electivire! The end!" June cried out. "Return!"
Electivire was returned to his Poké Ball.
June and I collapsed to the ground in exhaustion, panting heavily.
"What is wrong with that thing?" I asked.
June didn't reply. She just kept trying to catch her breath.
After several minutes, June turned to look at me and smiled. "So, am I in?"
I couldn't help but laugh. "Welcome back, June."
June crawled over to me and hugged me.
"Okay, okay, June," I said, gently pushing her away.
"Mean," she said, gently punching my arm.
"It may not obey you, but at least it fights," a voice said from nearby.
June and I turned quickly to see who it was.
"Robin!" June and I exclaimed in shock.
Robin stared down at us, wearing a thick black coat with a hood over his head, his hands at his side. His white sneakers looked fresh and new and looked nice against what seemed to be a fresh pair of blue jeans. "What a surprise. Nice to see you again, June," he said to her solemnly.
June stared at him silently, in shock. She finally nodded. "Hello, Robin!"
Robin turned to me, his eyes tightening. "You and me, Gary. One on one. Catherine versus something else in your party other than Charmeleon. I'm thinking maybe she's just too close to your Charmeleon. Maybe it isn't all about you after all. What do you say?"
I stared at him in disbelief.
I smiled.
"Then let the battle begin!"