ALL NOVEL All On The Line
Gary’s head was throbbing gently, but irritably. He sat on the floor, staring at both of his hands, confused.
The golden Desert Eagle was on the floor beneath his hands. Next to that were the personal items that had been taken, stuffed into his bag. Even his coat had been returned, which he was now wearing. He also was given his black cap with the Poke Ball design on the back, wearing it backwards as it seemed made for. In the middle of all the confusion and mayhem, he hadn’t even noticed he didn’t have it on.
The ten Pokemon Gary was looking after were kept from him, all placed into June’s bag which remained with a few Team Solace members.
Isaac’s main concern was the monster he was so close to finding, keeping things vague and unclear on what would happen to Gary and June’s Pokemon for the time being. After teaching Gary a few more things about gun safety, Isaac was now controlling the helicopter.
The other Team Solace members stood around the ship, their weapons lowered but still held, some of them sitting on chairs, the rest choosing the floor.
What happened? Gary wondered. He had removed the gauze from his right hand. There were no bruises or signs of injury, but the gauze was bloodied from when he had been hurt. He made tight fists, testing them, the same thing he’d been doing for over twenty minutes now. My hand was really screwed up, and yet, here I am with it just fine. No pain at all! When did it stop? Was it not that badly injured after all?
Gary went through his time while on the helicopter, trying to recall if his hand had been hurting at any point. I’m not entirely sure, he thought. That last time I can think of when it was hurt... When was that? He took in a sharp breath. Surely it was hurting when I ran into that beast before she threw me off the cliff, right? He couldn’t think of a specific moment his hand definitely hurt while up there, but he was certain it had. So what happened between then, and now, that my hand would be okay? I was thrown off a mountain! How did I even get here?! None of this makes any sense! I should be dead!
He took a sharp inhale of breath through his nose and remembered something else. My cold. My nostrils are cleared. It’s like everything that was wrong with me has gone away. No stuffy nose, no busted hand... What is-? His head suddenly burst with pain and he shoved both hands to it, shutting his eyes tight. Now what?? Is this, a migraine?
“We’re close now, everyone,” Isaac was heard.
Footsteps approached Gary and he raised his head, squinting blindly through tear-filled eyes.
“Are you alright, Gary?”
Gary blinked repeatedly, his vision swaying and unclear from his watery eyes.
“Gary.” Isaac got closer to the boy and stopped, standing tall.
Gary could see again. His eyes widened as he stared at Isaac, realizing his headache was now miraculously gone! He then inhaled shakily. “I’m fine, Isaac. She’s near? We’re ready to kill her? How are we going to get her?”
Isaac raised the black, square object with white buttons, a glowing green screen, and a black antenna. The device was still outlined in a light-blue glow. “Using this device. I never did show you it actually does what I say. It’s in the middle of Detect, but we’re working on using more than one move at once. If you look at that table, you’ll see the damage from some more physical moves like Karate Chop.”
Gary looked over at the broken table and then returned to Isaac.
“You don’t have to believe me right now. My claim is rather incredible,” Isaac admitted. “But when the monster arrives, you’ll see soon enough all the proof you need.” He turned his back on Gary, gazing out the large front window of the helicopter. “It’s why I told you earlier, things like magic are not that surprising, or hard to explain in a world such as ours. Once you understand that, devices like these are child’s play. The entire world will soon understand once I’ve killed this Pokemon and shown the true power of Team Solace.”
Gary also gazed out the window, but he could only see the blue sky full of clouds. Suddenly, his eyes closed hard, his eyebrows narrowing, and he put his right hand to his head as it started aching and throbbing again. My head again... Gary thought. Why? All the stresses of all this must be getting to me! I’m eleven years old, after all. No wonder I’m breaking. That must be what it is. This whole journey of mine is driving me up the wall!
Isaac stared at his remote and then walked to the chair at the front of the helicopter, taking a seat afterwards. He pressed a few buttons and pulled a couple of levers before him that were on an entire control station, making the helicopter shift and move in what felt entirely unstable.
Gary was the only one to scream and react strongly to what was going on.
“We’re closing in, everyone! GET READY!!” Isaac was screaming.
Isaac’s people got their guns ready to fire, aiming at every point of the helicopter with furious faces, though a few looked more nervous than others.
Gary had his mouth and eyes open wide, looking at everybody. Before he knew it, he suddenly had the golden gun in his hands cradled carefully. His hands tightened on the gun once he knew he was holding it. Wait, my head! Gary remembered. When did it stop hurting? When did I grab up the gun??
“HERE SHE COMES!” Isaac’s voice boomed. He ran from his seat, and a member of the gang replaced him, controlling the helicopter.
Gary noticed that this guy was one of the four who was guarding June’s bag. He watched the other three men who were aiming their weapons for wherever the monster might show up, and then he returned his focus to Isaac.
The man was glaring at his remote as he reached the helicopter door and slid it open. “LOWER!!”
“WHOA!” Gary yelled out as the craft dipped. He struggled not to fall over, keeping his gun in his hands as he stared out of the front window, seeing the unstable view. Then his eyes slammed shut! He held one hand in front of his forehead as it split right in two by what felt like an ax. His hand hovered in front of his head, unwilling to touch it, the pain he was in being unbearable. He didn’t want to add to it.
And just like that, the pain was gone!
Gary’s free hand fell to the floor, his other hand still keeping the gun up. His eyes went to each side, as if an answer to what had just happened to his head would be next to him. Tears slid down his cheeks and this made him blink and rub at his eyes. Tears? Why am I crying? From that headache I had? Maybe it has something to do with the sudden drop of the helicopter.
“Level out! Level out!” Isaac ordered.
The helicopter curved around a bit before flying straight again.
The split down Gary’s skull returned! His eyes shut tight, his breathing suddenly became more of a struggle, forcing him to inhale deeper, his chest heaving, and he felt himself falling over against his will! He finally took a hard breath in, harder than he expected, and ended up choking out. His breathing had gone back to normal, and his head felt just fine. He managed to sit back up straight again before hitting the floor. What was that? Gary questioned, shaking, and more tears ran down his cheeks. He looked down and cried out in a shaky whimper as he realized how hard he was squeezing his gun, as if gripping it for dear life. The safety was off and he opened his hand quickly, afraid of any sudden accidents.
He swallowed and started breathing hard, but not like a moment ago. Now, he was simply desperate to catch his breath. What was that feeling? I couldn’t breathe. Some kind of pressure on me. With the door open like that, and the way this helicopter is flying, maybe I’m getting sick from it all. Maybe that’s how that feels when-
“SHE’S HERE!! SHE’S HERE!! I SEE HER!!” Isaac touched his remote several times now, a crazed smile on his face, and he pointed the device out of the helicopter.
There was a shout from outside.
At the same time, Gary screamed, charging forward. He ripped his coat off, holding it in one hand, his bag and gun in the other.
“HEY! FREEZE, GARY!!”
“NO! DON’T MOVE!!”
“GET BACK HERE, KID!!”
Members of Team Solace shouted at the kid.
Gary had his eyes on three people in particular.
The three by June’s bag. Those three aimed their guns at the boy.
Gary tossed his coat in front of him, at the trio.
Guns fired, surprised at Gary’s action, and the coat was riddled with bullets.
Gary ducked low as he got closer to the men who were blinded by his coat, and he scooped June’s bag from the floor before turning and immediately aiming for Isaac.
Isaac finally looked back at him calmly, not looking at all surprised. In fact, he even smirked.
Gary, infuriated, stomped across the helicopter, moving at the quickest speed he could, ready to knock Isaac right out of the vehicle.
Gary could see Isaac and Prof. Oak wrestling over the golden gun in the helicopter before they both fell out.
Gary snapped out of the memory before it could conclude on the worst part. He slipped his backpack onto one shoulder, getting the strap of June’s bag on his other shoulder, and he used his arms to hold the bags close to him, gripping them with his hands.
Guns were being fired, but they stopped soon enough, Gary too close to the boss now to risk the man getting hit.
Gary readied his shoulder, almost up to Isaac. Professor Oak! Gary thought determinedly.
Isaac straightened up, his body facing Gary, and his eyes tightened, his smirk even changing to show displeasure instead.
Gary could see the sky they were flying through from the open door. He stopped running, facing Isaac, breathing harder than ever.
There was complete silence except for the sound of the helicopter itself.
Isaac was pointing his remote at Gary’s body.
Something outside caught Gary’s attention, and he focused his gaze out of the helicopter, to whatever else was up there with them all.
A being that was flying. The monster herself! Her skin was as dark as the night, her hair billowed out big behind her, holes all throughout it, like a net. Her arms were somehow entirely rolled up, as if she had no bones in them and they were just skin to roll up tight like a blunt, rolled all the way to her armpits. Her legs were bent back as far as possible, bending where her knees would be if she had them, with her feet touching her buttocks. Her head tilted up, looking to the helicopter. Though she had no eyebrows, she still appeared to be frowning. This angry look gave way to something else Gary wasn’t sure he had ever witnessed from her. Surprise!
It was as if, from those horrible, terrible, terrifying, ugly eyes of hers, he could see them widen with... Recognition? She knows it’s me? Gary questioned. No.
The monster, once moving at a speed that proved she’d be able to pass the helicopter in seconds, now started to slow down! She fell back slightly, remaining beside the helicopter, but also started slowly descending.
Before she disappeared entirely from Gary’s sight, Gary clenched his teeth, and his nose twisted and his lips sneered at a look of what could only be described as blank surprise on the monster’s face.
Her facial features allowed so little emotion to be displayed.
She’s... staring? At me? Gary bared his teeth, suddenly furious. He moved strongly up to Isaac, his hard eyes burning into the man’s cold ones.
Isaac moved to the side, out of Gary’s way.
Gary kept moving, going right past the man, and he stopped at the edge of the helicopter. He knew Isaac could easily just push him out. He knew he could be shot to death right there. He knew he could slip and fall out and die all on his own. So what am I doing here? he asked himself, the wind shoving against him, testing his limit and courage at such a height that Gary could see no end to.
But Gary could see her.
The monster, flying, remaining below the helicopter, but keeping close to it, looking right up at him.
Gary was hit with the most outrageous memories that could possibly hit him in that moment.
The monster grabbed Melissa by the throat, screeching in a wild wail like nothing Gary was familiar with. Her hair then came alive, sparking with blue electricity, and connected with Melissa’s face.
“MELISSAAAAAAA!!” Gary exploded, and charged in a rage.
Melissa hit the ground and didn’t move.
*
The monster bent over very slightly, just enough so that she could reach Gary with her long arms, and she dug her sharp nails into Gary’s cheeks, gripping his face.
Gary, downed by the creature, was whimpering more from terror than the pain.
“ELECTIVIRE!!!” Electivire lunged at her and swung with Thunder Punch.
The creature caught Electivire’s fist, her body lighting up from the attack, but she didn’t seem to react to it! Her entire eyes flashed with the color purple, and a purple squirt came out of each eye, hitting Electivire in his own eyes!
Electivire backed up, clawing at his own face and whining in pain! His own eyes were now both all purple!
“TYYYYY!!” Tyrogue flew at the opponent with High Jump Kick!
“CHARMELEOOOOOOON!!” Charmeleon used Flamethrower.
Her eyes back to their black color, only the edges purple, the creature moved to the side, Tyrogue missing his hit, and she grabbed Tyrogue’s other leg and with one swift motion and slammed him to the ground! She then held out her other hand and let the Flamethrower hit it! Charmeleon’s flames met with the thing’s open palm, but she simply stood still, taking the hit without the slightest reaction!
*
“ELECTIVIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRE!!!!” Electivire attacked the monster creature with Thunder!
The monster was hit, but she didn’t seem bothered by it. She barely flinched! Instead, she turned to Electivire. A smile crossed her face. “Oh? Motor Drive,” she spoke in such a pleasant, airy voice, echoing as if multiple people were speaking. The monster reached out a hand, but her hair then sparked blue and reached out, striking Electivire.
Electivire lit up blue as he twitched, grimaced, howled, bent over, and went all kinds of crazy as he was hurt by the attack.
*
The being knelt down and raised both sparking claws. She then ran them into the ground.
Small eruptions ran along the ground, meeting up with Gary’s Charizard’s Flamethrower and tearing right through it, and finally exploding hugely in front of Charizard!
Charizard wailed out and dropped to his side.
“HITMOOOOOOOOOOOOONCHAAAAAAN!!!” Hitmonchan struck the dangerous creature, flying at her with Retaliate, delivering a strong punch.
Her cheek smushed up against Hitmonchan’s impact, her head forced sideways. Her eyes then shot over to the attacker.
Pokemon after Pokemon from the Pewter Police Department appeared out of nowhere, eventually accompanied by blaring sirens from far away.
The monster grinned and then nodded and leaped into the air, high into the sky. Her hair billowed behind her and her body sparked with blue electricity as she came to a halt, floating, looking down at everyone. She held out one hand. “You are blinded!” She now spoke with energy in her multiple voices made of fire and sparks!
Several purple and blue beams came down from her extended hand, exploding everything.
*
“Hey... Hey! HEEEEEEEYYYY!!” The Ranger choked out, strangling as the monster wrapped one hand around her throat, her long nails digging in, forcing out blood!!
She pulled back her arm that held the woman in it and flung the Ranger right off the edge of the mountain!!
In the next instant, Gary was choking when the monster grabbed him by his throat and then flung him off as well!
*
Gary stared out the window of his room, gazing at Pallet Town.
The sun was still rising, covering the town in the same unwelcome awakening that had woken Gary up by making him uncomfortably hot.
He could still hear June’s screaming.
He could still see June screaming as her throat was grabbed by the monster; the monster who’s hand sparked with blue electricity and then covered June’s body in the same thing, zapping her.
June hit the ground after being released.
She didn’t move.
She didn’t breathe.
“Gary?”
Gary jumped and looked back, seeing the solemn, disappointed, and otherwise helpless face of his mom in his bedroom.
*
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 her shirt and jeans.
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 an unseen source of light coming from somewhere that casted wild, shifting, scary shadows.
A filthy black foot with curved toenails, hooked like bird talons, stomped on June’s head, and the toes curled to dig the thick nails into her head.
June shrieked for her life as blood shot out of her head.
*
The monster roared angrily at June!
June screamed back at the monster, but in terror, her ears covered and eyes shut.
One of the monster’s hands reached out, and she threw her peculiar blue-gray and pale-green ball!
June was hit and the ball opened, an orange beam coming out that hit June and made her also glow orange!
June screamed as she was turned completely into a shapeless, orange energy and pulled inside of the ball!
The ball hit the ground and rocked back and forth a few times. The middle of the ball had a button that went from white to black several times. Finally, the black remained with a PONG!
Gary thought about his golden gun, and the long awaited opportunity to finally use it. It was now. But instead, he shoved the gun into the waist of his jeans. He then slipped his other arm into the remaining loose strap of his own bag. He inhaled as deeply as he could. “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!”
Isaac gasped.
Several shouts and cries and gasps came out from the inside of the helicopter.
As Gary leaped out of the helicopter with a tremendous, enraged roar!!
His arms outstretched at his sides, forced by the winds.
The monster’s eyes widened in undeniable disbelief.
Screaming the entire time, ready to rip her head right off her shoulders, Gary got closer.
Closer.
Closer!
Closer!
June’s bag was forced from his arm and flew free, but he didn’t care. He just reached down for the monster. Nothing else mattered to him in the entirety of the whole world at this point.
He had all he ever wanted.
All he could need.
Was right.
HERE!
The monster’s arms, once rolled up into her armpits, now whipped loose, freeing themselves instantly with a sharp noise, and prepared for Gary!
Gary got to her and grabbed her by the face, digging his nails in! Dirt, Gary thought. Her skin is so clumsy, like filthy dirt! He pulled back a fist and slugged her in the face. He punched her again. Again. Pulled back and forced his fist into her face as hard as he could!
The creature didn’t respond much at all to any of this and raised a claw to cut into Gary’s face.
Gary tried to hold up her chin.
The monster’s claw wrapped around his neck.
His breath was taken away immediately. Ffffuck... Gary grunted. Shit! No! His legs kicked out and he raised his knees, bringing his entire body’s remaining energy into his knees and into the monster’s back.
She remained unbothered and wrapped her other hand around Gary’s entire head, her long fingers making the task a simple feat.
Like filth running along my skin. Grainy mud, maybe, Gary described of the monster’s touch as the nails on each finger started to dig at his skull. My gun! I can kill her with that Desert Eagle! She’s done! He grabbed her shoulder with one hand, his other hand going for the gun at his waist!
Time seemed to freeze as both Gary and the monster stared into each other’s eyes. Their eyes were wide, dangerous. Primal! Nothing would stop either of them.
This was their final fight.
After this, one of them would be dead!
SSSSPPPPPPPLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Gary gasped at first in shock at the sudden sound, and then inhaled in fright, realizing what had just happened. NO!
The monster’s eyes went down, taking in their sudden circumstance. They went up right after, and she roared.
The two were now in the middle of the huge ocean beneath them, water rising around them and then crashing down to take them under and breaking them apart from each other.
Gary took in a quick breath before the water came down to replace the air and flooded the two, and his eyes widened. He had to struggle not to gasp at what he saw next.
The monster’s neck stood out above all else now as the skin on it separated! It split into eight parts in total, one on each side, making four pairs of separate sections, greatly resembling gills!
Gary was disgusted at the sudden act by the monster and he would have drowned had he not held in the urge to inhale. However, he didn’t take a proper breath before going under and he knew his time was almost up.
But he wasn’t done yet! Suddenly, his arms spread out and shook hard. They then shot out as if he weren’t obstructed by the water, moving as if he knew the depths and workings of the substance all his life. His mouth opened bravely and he tightened his fingers on the monster’s face. He let out a roar, trying to rip her face apart right there and then!
At the same time, the beast was also roaring back. The monster’s drenched hair suddenly started wrapping around her head, clinging to it strongly rather than flowing in the water. It covered her head entirely, leaving only her eyeballs visible, forming perfectly around and even covering the gaping space between her eyes and the skin of her face! Out of nowhere, bubbles appeared around her head. While a consistent layer of bubbles stayed on her head, a different, smaller set kept rising.
The monster moved as swiftly underwater as she did out of it, and one large claw ripped through the water like a piping-hot knife through a block of butter.
Gary’s hand shot out and gripped her wrist, squeezing and holding it back! With his other hand on her face, he dug a thumb into her eye.
The creature didn’t react to her eye being jabbed, but instead stared at her hand behind stopped by Gary. Roaring in his face, she struggled to swipe at him, but her claw was moving shakily as she strained to strike the child.
Groaning underwater, holding back the beast’s hand and trying to rip her eye out, he realized how in control he felt. How much stronger. I can do this! I can beat her! Yeah! DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEE!!!! Gary fought back.
And then, Gary choked suddenly, inhaling without realizing it, and his body flailed out in a panic! It was as if he only just realized he was underwater! Just a moment ago he felt fine, as if he were on land and nothing could go wrong. As if he had the power to finally avenge his sister, kill the monster, and save June, all at once. But now, his nose and chest were burning, he couldn’t see, and he couldn’t breathe! What happened?!! he freaked out in his mind. Gary felt his body being forced through the water helplessly. He wasn’t able to fight back, completely helpless, weak, terrified, and about to die at any second!
Suddenly, Gary was in the air! Choking, coughing, his nose hurting from taking in water, Gary struggled to actually breathe, finding out he had made it out of the water, to the surface, soaring upward, and then dropping right back down again! He landed hard but sat up frantically, his hands on the ground, and leaned over to the side, hacking, coughing, and blowing out his nose to stop the agony he felt. “Huh?!” Still heaving and coughing out hard, he stared at the ground. Wait a minute... He looked around. Where...? His eyes widened as he kept on coughing, but he was dumbstruck, not believing what he was seeing. But a huge SPPPLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSHHHHH!!!! behind him made him jump and look.
Soaring through the air, the monster landed on the cement ground. Her hair came loose from around her head, the bubbles on it popping silently, and the gills sunk back into her neck, the skin returning to its scaly look with a red diamond tattoo on each side. She was a fair distance away and started moving determinedly for him.
Gary, scared out of his mind, was now scrambling backwards and let out a fearful squeak. My gun, Gary remembered. My gun! Oh, no. It’s too late! He grabbed at his stomach, gripping the gun handle. SHOOT HER!! He could hear the helicopter clearly, but he paid it no mind. This is it, you bitch! he thought angrily. He was too afraid to stand, his body trembling out of control. He pulled out his gun and stared at it. He spotted the safety switch. The safety. It’s off! he remembered. It’s been off the whole time! I could have... shot myself! Ignoring this terrifying revelation to focus on a more important matter, he looked up at the monster as he cocked back the gun. Slide back, he told himself. And... He raised the gun, holding it in both hands. FIRE! He slid his finger around the trigger. FIRE! Gary’s arms were shaking too much. COME ON, GARY! FIRE!! But Gary knew he’d never hit the monster like this. He couldn’t aim. He felt like just holding the gun up was too difficult! GARY! SHOOT! Gary’s finger squeezed. He shut his eyes, grit his teeth, and anticipated the sound.
Instead, there came a different noise.
Gary’s eyes opened and he saw that the monster had stopped and was looking behind her.
She was looking back at a helicopter!
The bottom was painted black, the top half a shining, bright silver. A white S was painted on the front of it. From the open door of the helicopter was a man with a hard face glaring out from it, a rope ladder also swinging below.
Isaac! Gary recognized.
Isaac moved away from the door and was replaced with four men holding differing big guns, pointing them at Gary and the monster.
Gary lowered his own weapon as his mouth dropped open in horror along with his widening eyes. No... he thought, horrified.
There was a shout from the helicopter.
Though it wasn’t entirely clear who it came from, Gary felt certain it was Isaac.
Soon after, the guns went off, bullets flying like mad.
Gary screamed and raised one arm up, knowing that would do nothing, and that he was dead. He braced his body for the impact of the bullets. He was ready to close his eyes and take in death itself.
Except.
The monster waved an arm and screamed out shrilly! She stumbled back several steps and bent over as a sparking blue wall appeared in front of her and little explosions went off as more bullets collided with it. The monster grabbed at her chest with one hand, her stomach with the other, and heaved out weakly.
That barrier again, Gary recognized. His memory wasn’t precise, but he knew he had seen a protective measure like this before from her. In Viridian City? When the Team Solace members fired at her in the mist?
Her body twisted enough that Gary could see the front of her better, and he noticed the blood running through her fingers that she was trying to keep in her chest and stomach area. Her hands, or claws, then moved away maybe an inch or less in front from where she was wounded, and they started sparking with blue electricity! As more bullets were fired at her, she remained safe behind her barrier, and continued to seemingly zap her chest and stomach with her own created electricity!
Gary’s mouth shut as he watched her, confusion strong on his face. He was startled just a bit at something he spotted out of the corner of his eyes. Did something just fall from her? Gary questioned.
The sparks from the monster to herself stopped, and the little bombs against her shield from Team Solace’s weapons ceased soon after.
The creature turned away and stood tall all of a sudden. She no longer looked weakened by the shots she took before creating her shield. Her blood-stained chest even puffed out as she faced Team Solace. Her stomach was also covered in some fresh, glistening blood. Her shield vanished, and then she roared viciously. Her bloodied fingers extended.
What did she just do? Gary questioned. He stared down at his gun for only a moment before looking at the monster and Team Solace.
The helicopter got closer, the rope ladder just above the ground.
By now, Isaac had been climbing down the ladder as the flying craft kept going right past the monster and Gary. With a shout, Isaac leaped, landing and bending his knees as his feet hit the ground. He stood up with a groan, a smile, and an extended arm. In his hand was the black remote. He raised his free hand to adjust a headset that he was wearing.
The monster roared again, her broken, discolored teeth visible, her fat, pink tongue tumbling out of her mouth, and her hair came alive, surrounded by blue electricity. She raised sparking claws high into the air.
Isaac hit a button on his device and it was outlined in red before something red, yellow, and orange burst out in a long stream from the antenna.
This looked like fire had just come out and it hit the beast. The blaze then became a vertical tower, swirling and keeping her within!
No way! Gary watched in amazement. That looks like...
The fire went away around her, the monster’s entire body now revealed to be covered in blue electricity. The blue around her went away. She looked furious as she extended a hand.
Isaac moved swiftly, pressing buttons and twisting the dial of the remote before the black object was now outlined in white.
Several purple and blue beams came out from the creature’s palm.
The device let out a purple aura that soon expanded, becoming circular, and quickly engulfed Isaac!
He was inside of an orb! The beams the beast shot out hit the barrier, causing Isaac to hold his remote outward with both hands as if fighting against the force of the beams. When her attack ended, Isaac was just fine. He relaxed and smiled at his device as the barrier vanished.
Wait. Gary was stunned. Protect?? Wasn’t that the move Protect?? He really can do it?! Trembling, Gary kept watching, too shaky to stand up. Too frightened by the realization that, right now, he was watching a battle!
The remote went blue and a huge stream of water came out of the antenna for the monster.
Her body was covered in blue electricity and she flew right into the blast! The water curved around her body as she came right for Isaac.
She’s got him! Gary knew, unsure of how he should be feeling. Who am I rooting for? No! Isaac has to win!! Gary knew. SHE HAS TO DIE!! He gripped his gun shakily, looking at it, and then looked up to see what was happening next.
The Team Solace helicopter remained in the area, flying slowly, noisily, in a big circle around the area, Isaac’s shooters waiting for the word.
In the area, people were either screaming and running, watching and filming with their cameras, or screaming into their phones.
Gary barely had a chance to notice all of this, staring at the city by the edge of the water.
Isaac raged out loud and messed with his device.
Gary didn’t know what to do. Try to shoot at her? Help Isaac?
The monster was so close to Isaac now. But suddenly, she actually slowed down!
Gary froze with interest at this. Is it working? Is Isaac winning?
Merely inching forward now, the monster was struggling to get through the water to reach Isaac! She let out a yell, and only a couple of seconds later, she was forced back and away! She hit the ground and pushed herself up with one arm, heaving out strong, her tongue hanging out and writhing as she kept her evil eyes on the man.
Gary inhaled sharply but quietly through his nose. She’s down!
Smiling wickedly, Isaac took slow steps towards her. “You evil bitch,” Isaac taunted her. His smile became a sneer. “And this is just the prototype,” he spoke darkly, pressing more buttons. “The finished version will be much more powerful. And you won’t be around to see it.” The remote started to glow green now, and Isaac stared at Gary. His smile returned.
Gary just swallowed, quivering in place.
“I think you’ll enjoy this one, Gary.”
The monster’s left leg swung upward.
Isaac was already pressing the button to attack.
Her foot was stuck just inches away from Isaac’s face as she was hit by a green beam. She screeched out helplessly, painfully, her body twisting as she clawed at the ground while on her back as she was tortured.
“For your late sister, Gary.” Isaac kept his eyes on the Trainer. “Giga Drain.”
Gary’s eyes widened, watching the monster in so much pain. Yeah, Gary realized. Just like my sister. Now, you suffer. You took her from me for no reason, like Isaac said. You healed yourself using her life. Now you die. My sister can rest in peace.
But... How do I find June...? While thinking about this, he focused on the monstrous thing that lay there on the ground, breathing hard, weakened from Isaac’s use of Giga Drain. He eyed her body, and observed the area where dried blood rested. Her stomach and chest. She’s been shot, he knew. And she healed her wounds.
He recalled Viridian City, when he had been fighting this evil entity with Robin and Aly. After being shot by Team Solace, the blood stopped running and her shoulder was just fine!
But she still... killed my sister, he continued. My sister should be alive. Melissa shouldn’t have been killed! She really can heal herself without needing to take the health from someone else. This thought made Gary even angrier. I should be the one to kill her, he knew, fury taking over his face. But he still didn’t raise the gun. He kept his eyes on her face. On her terrifying eyes. They never did blink, he noticed. She doesn’t blink? Has she ever?
Her eyes were wide open, staring around slowly.
People in the area were talking, the crowd getting heavier around the fight.
There were shouts like orders being given, and sirens were going off from police cars.
Isaac had been pressing buttons.
The monster’s eyes focused on him as she started sitting up.
This time, he raised his remote to the sky and pressed the button.
The remote was outlined in yellow.
And that was all.
Gary waited, anticipating the new attack, but beside a cool breeze blowing by, there was nothing.
The monster’s body was covered in blue electricity and she started ascending off the ground.
Dark clouds started creeping in, covering up the blue afternoon sky and replacing the bright clouds.
The monster’s body straightened as she glared down at Isaac from several feet high. She raised her hands.
“Do not fire,” Isaac spoke calmly, his eyes on the monster.
What? Why would he say that? Does he expect her to just listen to him?
“Trust me.” Isaac’s eyes tightened. “She’s all mine. As I instructed.”
His men! Gary now understood. He’s speaking through the headset.
“You. Your disrespect of Pokemon, so disgusting. HUMAN CONTAMINAAAAAAAANT!!” Her voice was in a sharp rage, coming out in one singular blast.
Isaac squinted at her, his eyebrows narrowing as a low rumble came from the skies.
“The power is not yoooours!!”
It was then that Isaac smiled. He looked to the sky at the same time the monster, Gary, and some others did, after lightning crashed loudly through the sky.
The monster backed up through the air and then turned away, and with an almost blinding burst of speed, flew off towards the sea.
She’s escaping! “NO!” Gary finally stood up and gripped the gun tightly. I have to!
The electricity around the monster’s body vanished, replaced instead by a light-blue aura. She had also stopped moving, just hovering still.
“GOTCHA!”
Gary looked back.
Isaac had his remote out, outlined in pink, and he yanked back hard.
Before Gary could turn around, the monster flew past his vision and slammed into the ground.
“You’re not going anywhere, bitch!” Isaac cackled.
“EVERYBODY FREEZE OR WE WILL SHOOT!!!”
“EVERYBODY STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING!!”
“EVERYBODY ON THE GROUND, RIGHT NOW!!”
More commands from the police were heard as more cop cars pulled up to the area. Their guns in hand, both male and female officers ran up to the chaos only to stop short, petrified.
Gary was going to shove his gun down his pants on fearful instinct, but he was afraid he’d be seen doing so. It was this extra time to consider his actions that made him remember that he might end up in a far worse position if he ended up accidentally shooting himself! It was scary enough that he hadn’t done so earlier. Even knowing Isaac’s safety instructions on the gun when not in use, he was too afraid to just slip it into his pants.
Looking around him, Isaac let out a yell and whipped one arm around, the remote in the same hand.
The monster was carried with the motion and flew around in a huge circle, slamming into police officers!
The officers weren’t sure who to aim their guns at, Isaac or the monster, resulting in them screaming as they were smacked down. But more cops were rushing in.
The monster’s body stopped glowing light blue and she slid on the ground.
An order was given by an Officer Jenny that had just arrived and the police force that were on their feet, along with Officer Jenny, aimed their guns at Isaac while the cops on the ground scrambled to aim at the monster. “GET ON THE GROUND, ISAAC!! THIS IS YOUR LAST WARNING!!”
Isaac stared around at the scene.
“WHATEVER’S IN YOUR HAND, PUT IT DOWN RIGHT NOW!! OR WE WILL-!!” Out of nowhere, Officer Jenny was jumped from behind by a man and forced to the ground!
“LEAVE TEAM SOLACE ALONE!!” he screamed angrily. “THEY’RE STOPPING THE MONSTER!!” He repeatedly punched the officer in the face while on top of her.
That was until the shots were fired by three other officers.
The man screamed out and collapsed amongst the flying bullets.
Several other cops were staring in horror at the cops who fired their weapons.
There was a roar that made everyone look.
The monster was standing again!
There were then more screams, and groups of people were now attacking the police!! Officers were being tackled, kicked, punched, and even struck with objects. Their guns were even being taken from them!
CRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHH!!!!!!
BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSHHHHHHH!!!!
Lightning began hitting the ground wildly, striking whatever it could.
Officers screamed, civilians screamed, buildings and other structures in the distance seemed to explode into fire. There was nothing but loud fear and pandemonium.
What??! How?? It must be-! Covering his ears, Gary’s eyes returned to the main scene, seeing that Isaac and the monster, both on their feet, were glaring at each other.
The monster was hunched over.
Isaac stood tall and proud.
CRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCKKKKKKK!!!!!!
One lightning bolt came down and took down the monster. She flew back and wailed out helplessly as she slid on her back.
Isaac’s machine used Thunder? Gary thought.
Isaac moved up to her as lightning flashed above him.
The monster watched him, but she didn’t move.
Wait! Gary realized, his eyes widening. She was taken down by lightning??
Isaac stared back blankly. “That’s right, you embodiment of evil. This is it.” More lightning flashed above him. “Your match is met. The trauma you and your species of Pokemon have brought to this planet, ends by my hand. The hand of god of this planet.” He held out the remote, pointing it at her. “I’d love to test out each and every type of move out there against you, but there’s no time for that.”
The monster’s head lifted, wavering, her eyes on Isaac. She looked so weak. Tired. Her hair was away from her ears which were visibly just little circles bent in half.
“The best move in my arsenal to kill you with, specially requested by Yours Truly.” He pressed the button. “Punishment.”
The device Isaac held was glowing black.
Isaac swiftly whipped the device towards the monster, and a streak of black came out and whipped her.
She screeched in agony as she was hit and tumbled.
Isaac was relentless, whipping her again with it.
Blood splashed out of her skin where she was hit this time.
“I shall take immense pleasure in your slow death. For the pain you’ve brought to my planet,” Isaac told her coldly, and whipped her again.
There were cheers heard. From the circling helicopter holding Team Solace’s members, to the crowds nearby that were jumping and celebrating amongst the fire and fighting against the police. The cops seemed to have lost complete control of the crowd somehow, overwhelmed as it seemed like everyone was against them. Fights were taking place over their guns, and in some cases, it was as if cops and civilians had chosen to have one-on-one fist fights!
The blasts of lightning had come to an end, the blue sky making itself remembered as the dark clouds lightened up to white again.
Gary couldn’t believe any of this was happening. It was too much to take in and make sense of. Just kill her already, he insisted, frowning.
With another whip, the black around Isaac’s remote went away.
The monster barely reacted to the latest whipping, laying motionless, her eyes closed.
Is that it? Is she dead? Is it finally over? Gary wondered. His body was jelly, his bones made of mush.
Isaac stared at his remote and then back over to the still monster. “But if we’re really gonna go old school, let’s take it back...” He started to press a button.
The monster’s body suddenly flashed a bright white.
In the next instant, Isaac’s body flashed the same and he screamed in agony, gripping his remote! He fell to his knees. “Nooo! Don’t. Do. Anythiiiiiiing!!” he insisted, speaking into his headset, gripping it with his free hand. “She’s all MIIIIIIIIIIIIINE!!”
The monster’s body flinched, and soon, she had gotten onto her knees, her back to Isaac.
“STAND BACK I SAID!! THAT IS A DIRECT ORDER!! DISOBEY AND BE EXECUTED!!!” Isaac bellowed. His eyes were shut tight in pain, his tightened teeth showing.
The monster was on her feet now, her body quivering and wavering, and her eyes on Isaac.
Isaac’s eyes opened and he breathed out wearily. They widened as they saw the beast. Both hands pressed at the remote as he struggled to punch in the commands he desired.
She roared and moved at him, visibly weakened.
Isaac aimed and fired at her, the device outlined in light brown.
She leaped off to the side and rolled.
A pair of huge, light-brown jaws came out of the antenna and went over the creature, instead crunching into the crowd and police vehicles. This impact caused an explosion mixed with screams.
Isaac was quick despite the pain he displayed on his face and was punching in more information. Before long, he aimed as the monster was only just getting to one foot and fired another move from the device that now glowed a normal brown.
The monster turned at the last second to see several glowing diamonds flying out from the device, headed for her. She moved swiftly onto both feet and bent herself where her knees would be, except she had none, and this made her legs look so weird as they bent.
Isaac hit several buttons and turned the dial.
The monster shot off into the sky like a jet. Her body was then outlined in a dark purple and she was held in the air, screaming out desperately, struggling.
Isaac had trapped her again in a move! “You’re not that fast, bitch,” Isaac smiled angrily, using both his hands to grip the remote and keep her from escaping. He grunted and groaned, trying hard to slam her to the ground. “You will die today!” he struggled.
The monster reached up helplessly and she was forced down flat on her face.
Isaac released her and punched in more buttons immediately as he walked quickly to her. “This ends here this ends here this ends here this ends here!!” He held out the device, stopping right beside her.
The monster’s head jerked to the side to see Isaac, and she grabbed his ankle.
Isaac’s eyes widened before his eyebrows furrowed. Before he could make another move, he let out a struggled groan. He bared his teeth. “Hey! Noo... What...?” Isaac fell to his knees, his device dropping out of his hands.
The monster’s grip tightened as she rasped out at him.
Isaac tried to stand, but he eventually fell to his back, letting out a terrible sound from deep within.
She’s... doing that thing! Gary remembered. When she grabbed me and weakened me to submission on the mountain! And Electivire!
The monster released his ankle and got herself to what would be her knees. Gunshots fired, and the monster turned to the large audience. She raised a sparking claw and rammed it into the ground, digging down as deep as her fingers being covered.
Several sparks went off in several lines, exploding on the way toward the crowds.
People started screaming and trying to run away in a frenzy, shoving others out of their way.
The lines of explosive sparks reached the crowd quickly and it all exploded in one huge blast, clouding the area from view.
The Team Solace helicopter tried to fly out of range of the explosives and failed, getting caught in the hit and crashing into an even larger explosion!
It was just the monster, Isaac, and Gary visible.
Gary knew he had his gun in his hands, but he felt completely useless right now. He knew he had nothing to stop this creature. MY POKEMON!! he suddenly remembered. WHAT HAVE I DONE??? WHERE ARE THEY??!!
Gary saw himself leaping out of the helicopter and letting go of June’s bag, which held all of his and June’s Pokemon, as he came down for the monster. He remembered the monster being all he could think about, and them crashing into the water. The bags meaning nothing to him. I even... shook my arms free from the straps of my own bag! Gary realized. Why would I do that? Gary questioned as tears flowed from his eyes. My Pokemon...! They’re all gone!
The monster had crawled over to Isaac and grabbed him by his throat, getting up onto one knee.
Isaac grunted against the grasp and grabbed at her fingers, trying to create space.
The monster’s eyes flashed purple, and now were completely the same color!
Gary gasped. “No,” he breathed out. “She’s gonna-!”
Electivire lunged at the monster with Thunder Punch.
The creature caught Electivire’s fist, her body lighting up from the attack, but she didn’t seem to react to it! Her entire eyes flashed with the color purple, and a purple squirt came out of each eye, hitting Electivire in his own eyes! She released Electivire’s hand.
Electivire backed up, clawing at his own face and whining in pain, his eyes now both all purple!!
“Isaac...” Gary spoke hesitantly. The poison! He shook his head. I can’t, he knew. I can’t let him die like that! Not when this bitch killed my sister! He’s so close to beating her! Aly... Gary’s eyes went down as something else infiltrated his mind.
“ALY, STOP!” Gary demanded frantically.
BOOM!
…
…
…
The blood splattered the floor.
Aly gasped loudly.
Gary’s heart leaped into my throat, blocking his breathing.
The tour group started screaming frantically.
Aly collapsed on her side, gasping desperately for air, her eyes straight up to the ceiling as she coughed up blood all over herself.
“ALY! NO!” Gary gripped her shoulders.
Aly’s eyes gleamed with tears as she looked back at him, shivering and coughing up blood everywhere, splattering his shirt.
People around them in the Kanto Radio Tower were still screaming, several people crying.
“Gary,” she managed. Her hand shot up and grabbed Gary’s arm. Her eyes rolled up in her head.
*
“ALY, STOP!!” both Garys demanded frantically!
From where he stood, Gary couldn’t see the man who raised his gun.
But Gary was also behind him, watching the gunman aim at Aly!!
The man whipped his head at the sound of Gary’s voice behind him! “HEY!! WHO THE-?!!”
Screaming, Gary dove at the man, feeling as light as a feather as he floated over to him with ease. He was weightless. His-
BOOM!
...
...
...
Gary rested on top of the man, not entirely sure how he got there, but knowing he had made the jump at some point.
The tour group started screaming frantically.
“AAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!” one of the adults from the tour group charged forward and tackled a member of Team Solace who was near him.
“GOOOOOO!” The screams of DJ Bergamot and DJ Tulip came out from their throats and they charged individual members of Team Solace.
This was followed by more encouraged shouts by the braver of the tour people who then ran at the criminals, grabbing for their guns and attacking them.
Some people ran and hid in the booths, others running for the stairway exit.
Gunfire went off like mad.
Gary and the man he had tackled turned just as a boot flew and connected with the side of the man’s head.
BOOM!
“OH GOD!!” Gary covered his face and looked away.
Aly shrieked and ran from the body.
The man’s dead body remained a still, bloody mess, having just accidentally shot himself after Aly stomped his head.
“Isaac...” Gary whispered. His eyes looked back to the man. “What the-?” He went silent, unable to breathe with his heart now in his throat. And he was unable to keep it down.
The monster, ready to poison the man with her eyes, didn’t seem to see Isaac had raised his free hand, which held the remote.
A button was being held down, outlining the device in white. But then, something more happened. The entire object started glowing bright white!
The monster’s head tilted to stare at the remote.
“My backup plan, you bitch!” Isaac choked out nastily. “Explosion!”
Gary inhaled hard. “ISAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC!!!”
There was a huge eruption from the ground right in that moment, but it wasn’t from Isaac, nor the monster.
Because right after that, before anyone had even processed what had just happened, Isaac’s device blew up, further covering the entire area in smoke and dirt. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!
There were horrified screams from everywhere.
Gary curled up into a ball and closed his eyes as the dirt and debris covered him. No. What have I done? Gary panicked. I let Isaac die? He used Explosion?? Isaac! Is he really gone?! Is the monster dead? As the rush of wind from the explosions died down, Gary held his breath and squinted carefully as he slowly raised his head, keeping a useless arm over his forehead to pointlessly protect his view. Isaac...? he thought.
The air was filthy. There was nothing at all to see of anyone or anything.
Gary got to his feet and stumbled a little, just trying to take in what happened. Everyone’s... dead, he believed. The monster. Isaac gave his life to kill her. Team Solace... won?
Strange noises filled the area.
What is that? Gary wondered, looking around. But he felt certain the sounds were coming from right up ahead. Where Isaac and the monster had just been. He squinted feebly to try to see through the cloudiness, but he knew he’d see nothing. But he didn’t have to wait much longer to see what was causing the sounds.
Eventually, Gary finally saw something up ahead.
Some things, even.
Standing tall was one creature that gleamed like metal.
Gary was breathing again in the presence of this new being, but he was taking it slowly, not wanting to bring the filth in the air into his body. Is that...? A Pokemon? I don’t have my Pokedex anymore! I think Isaac had it! And that means...
From the cloudiness, something else was then shown.
Gary’s eyes widened. Wait, I think I remember that one. From... From... From Route 1! When me, June and Aly were trying to make it back to Pallet Town! When Ditto was copying all those Legends! What did she call it again? Is this the real one??
A third, tall monster appeared out of the dust as well.
All three sort of resembled one another, but couldn’t be more different at the same time.
These have to be Pokemon! Gary was sure. But are they really all Legendary Pokemon? Why would they be here, now?
And then.
Something that was even taller than all of these three, emerged forward. It was twice the size of the other three, and looked little like them, and yet had similarities. For one thing, they all had several dots on the top of the middle of their bodies. They also had such a blocky formation to their bodies, like squares, one way or another.
But with all the various kinds of Pokemon shapes, body types, elemental typings, and behaviors that Gary was familiar with, there was something about these four that let Gary know they were Pokemon.
Something that let Gary know in that moment.
That this monster Isaac had died for.
Was never a Pokemon!
Team Solace is wrong, he realized. Isaac, died, wrong! This isn’t a Pokemon at all! In fact, I’ve never seen something so unnatural in my entire life! But either way, this thing has to die! NOW!
It was right after that thought, that a loud noise called out.
The four Pokemon remained still until the being charged through the filthy air.
He stood with a furious face with a white beard, a hairy chest, and gray sweats over white sneakers.
The tallest of the four monsters stomped past the earlier three, revealed to be carrying something in each arm!
Gary gasped, not believing what he was seeing it carry.
In its right arm was the Infinity Energy inside of a capsule! The tallest Pokemon was holding a clear capsule, the top and bottom of it golden, with a bright light glowing in the middle of it. But in its other arm was something equally as shocking. It had the monster that had been fighting Isaac!
The monster was motionless, completely sprawled out in the fourth being’s left arm. She could have been dead!
The huge titan then spun entirely unnaturally in place like some kind of move a particular, late celebrity might have been able to pull off, and was soon digging like a gigantic drill into the ground, vanishing moments later!
The other three Pokemon leaped in turn after it into the hole it left behind, and just like that, all four Pokemon, along with the monster creature, were gone!
The man who had appeared ran up to the hole and gaped down it with open eyes and mouth. He raised his hands to his head and screamed, “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!”
It’s Byron! Gary finally recognized him. The Gym leader of Canalave City!
“MY GYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYM!!” Byron screamed down into the hole. He looked to the sky as he continued to scream. His face was nothing but horror and disbelief. He inhaled again before bellowing, “I LOVE MY GYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYMM!!!!!!!”