Butts,
June’s mouth was wide open, held by a pair of demonic, blackened hands. Her revealed body was engulfed in a glowing light.
A finger from a different, deformed hand that looked like the pair holding June’s mouth open, had an especially long, but still human-looking nail inside the girl’s mouth. It scraped against June’s tongue and then rose, showing that the nail held some scraped skin, as well as a little blood, and then the monstrous hand moved out of sight.
A slurping noise was then heard.
June was released and fell, remaining motionless, her eyes closed, seemingly unconscious. Her underwear was all she was in, and they were barely in one piece and unsanitary. The girl herself was filthy, her skin damaged and covered in bumps, blisters, and crying for just one good washing. Her eyes were black and swollen, emphasized in the light she was basked in.
Something unclear was heard.
A terrible finger returned and poked its way into June’s left ear.
Another grotesque hand picked at June’s bra before letting go.
More sounds were heard.
“Why?” came a question in echoes.
“Her modesty,” was the whispered, echoed reply.
Something more was urgently said, followed by more talk, but nothing was coherent anymore.
The sickening hand that touched June’s bra then made a swipe at her, tearing the strap of her bra and leaving her shoulder bloodied.
There was what sounded like a sharp hissing as the nasty finger in June’s ear continued slowly digging in.
With an angry rasp, the disgusting finger was yanked out by another horrible hand.
June stirred and, while screaming, instinctively moved away. Her eyes remained shut, so badly bruised that she couldn’t even open them.
The long nail on the finger that had been in June’s ear was now stained with blood.
“Not the ears!! Fool!!” was a fiery shout that crackled like lightning in a mix of differing levels of voices.
June blindly scrambled for her life in the dark cave, blood running out of her left ear. She fell onto her right side and held the left side of her head, bawling, shrieking.
The vision of June was gone as the eyes looked away from her and to the ground, but the sound of scrambling and movements could be heard as June continued screaming. She’s useless. She has to die. Suddenly, a powerful energy of burning, raging fire took over. She’s a risk alive, the thoughts continued. “I’ll kill her myself!” The flames consumed-
“NNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! DON’T!!! NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!” Gary sat up and leaped to his feet, ready to charge at- “Kai,” he breathed out in a frightened whisper. “Kai?” he asked louder, confused.
Ranger Kai was sat up, staring at Gary in horror, her fists raised as if ready to fight.
In front of her was Gary’s Snorlax Egg.
Swadloon was on the ground beside Dunsparce, staring frightfully at the boy, Dunsparce presumably doing the same, though it was impossible to tell with Dunsparce’s blank face.
From a string attached to a web in a tree, Ranger Kai’s Galvantula was hanging, Ariados doing the same from his own web from his separate tree.
Kricketune was on his feet, staring at Gary in surprise.
Illumise was in the air, looking down at Gary in shock.
Riolu was staring at her Trainer apprehensively, her little mouth open in disbelief, her little paws held out as if to keep him away.
Even Electivire was staring at Gary with big eyes, sitting up with his large hands gripping at the grass growing in the ground.
It was dark as could be out in the middle of the woods.
“Gary, what in the world just happened??” Ranger Kai asked him breathlessly. “What kind of a nightmare was that?”
“Huh?” Gary breathed out tiredly.
Ranger Kai didn’t say anything for a moment. Finally, she just shook her head. “Is that normal for you? Do you usually have nightmares like that? Where you become possessed by the Devil?”
“The Devil?”
“You were like, going out of control crazy-like and speaking in tongues and raising the dead for all I know!”
Gary looked away from her. This isn’t normal, he kept to himself. These dreams are insane. But they’re just dreams! I’m just stressed out! But- Gary kept his mind silent, but knew what it was trying to say. His eyebrows narrowed as impatience started to grip his chest. It feels too real... he finally admitted. It doesn’t just feel like a bad dream sometimes. Gary was now shaking his head, clenching tight fists. Sometimes it’s more like a- Gary stood up, glaring at Ranger Kai now.
Surprise came over her face. “Gary?”
He didn’t speak, just glaring at the woman as he breathed in and out hard from his open mouth. “I need a walk! Just watch the Pokemon!” he finally let out at her. He stared at his Bug type, and then at Electivire, and finally at the Egg he was sure shouldn’t have been anywhere near Ranger Kai. With a swift motion, he recalled Riolu into her Poke Ball, the Pokemon still looking petrified. “Just stay here!” And Gary took off into the woods, leaving behind a shocked Ranger.
He stomped on branches and grass and more, animals scurrying away at his presence. Tears were running down his eyes long before he finally stopped, falling to his knees. By this time, the anger was gone, replaced with desperation and depression. Gary held out the Poke Ball still in his hand.
When the white light faded, Riolu stared at Gary, her face still frightened. “Ri?” she cried out once more as Gary threw himself at the Pokemon, crying hard now.
“Riolu, if there’s anything you can do to help me! If you have any moves or Abilities or anything, please!” He held his little Pokemon in his arms, his face against her body, sobbing like mad. “I need help, Riolu!”
Riolu held Gary as best as she could with her little arms and rested her head against his.
Snorting hard, he continued, “I heard you can read emotions and feelings and stuff, and if that’s true, I need your help! I think I’m going crazy! I don’t know what else to do!” Snot was running down his nose as he kept crying, a complete mess.
“Ri,” Riolu responded, and she nodded.
Gary felt this nod against his head, and it comforted him a bit. He lifted his head and held Riolu’s tiny shoulders. “Please, Riolu!” he begged and then sniffled, but something was in his nose, and the sniffle caused a sharp but small pain. He knew he looked gross, and after snorting, his nose ran even faster, confusing him. He wracked his mind, desperate to say more, but he didn’t know what more to say. His shoulders slumped as he breathed out tiredly, and his head fell in front of him. This made his nose drip even more.
Riolu put her head to his again, which only made Gary tighten his grip around his little Pokemon. Both Trainer and Pokemon were crying against each other.
*
“I’ve almost got it!” Ranger Kai leaped and swiped at the Murkrow that she, Gary, and their Pokemon had been chasing for about ten minutes now after it stole her badge. Not a Gym Badge or anything as important as that, but something that Ranger Kai held of close importance to her that also happened to glimmer.
There were several other Murkrow flying with the thieving one, cawing out and trying to Peck at the two Trainers and their Pokemon, but Ranger Kai’s goal was to reach the specific Murkrow that stole from her.
The Trainers had recalled most of their Pokemon before running, their remaining Pokemon forced to keep up.
Gary was holding his Egg in his arms, his Charizard above him and Raichu in the back. He was running awkwardly due to the task of being careful with the Egg. It felt especially uncomfortable as he couldn’t get his tight coat to fit him any looser.
Caterpie and Dunsparce were nowhere to be seen, the slow Pokemon left behind.
Ranger Kai swiped for the bird again, and the other Murkrow got closer to the specific one she was going for, making it harder to find the right one. “You can’t fool me!” Ranger Kai smiled, swatting away the other Murkrow and then leaping in the air for the one she needed.
The Murkrow all made a turn through tight trees.
Ranger Kai stumbled as she missed but landed on her feet and charged right after them.
“Kai, wait!” Gary stopped, heaving and ready to stop the chase. After all, this didn’t concern him, and he finally had lost Ranger Kai! We’re running through trees in the very early morning, he added. The sky isn’t even lit yet. We could easily get lost out here! We’re gonna be waking up a lot of angry Pokemon. Possibly even a bunch of Beedrill! He shuddered at the thought of a swarm of Beedrill, or even a pack of Primeape, chasing them. But I can’t leave her alone to face that, right...? But I also can’t jeopardize my Egg!
At that thought, the Egg shook hard for several seconds.
If only it’d just hatch, I could catch it and go help Kai! Gary thought desperately. But I can’t risk the Egg like this! Not just as a Trainer; as a human being with a soul and heart!
Ranger Kai’s scream rang out through the forest.
“Kai!” Gary called out. What do I do?? What do I do?? he panicked. He looked to his Pokemon that stood behind him. “WATCH MY EGG!!”
Charizard and Raichu nodded with determination.
He set the Egg down and the Pokemon immediately surrounded it closely.
Gary smiled and nodded, and then, yelling out in rage, leaped into the thicket of trees. “KAAAAI! I’M COMIIIIIIING!!” He moved through the trees, getting cut by branches in the face and prodded in the arms and legs. He had no idea where she was, but he had to find her. Had to save her! Who have I got with me to help? Charizard and Raichu are with the Egg. Uummm... Who is with me? Right now! Riolu? Uhh...
There was yet another scream, but it wasn’t from in front of him.
Was that even Kai? Gary wondered. It has to be. It’s all I have to go on! He turned, hoping this new direction wasn’t taking him away from finding the woman. “KAAAAAAAAII!!” So many thoughts were flowing through his head that he was forgetting previous ones. Where is she? Was leaving my Pokemon behind the right decision? Who’s still on my team? How can Kai be so reckless as a Ranger? Where is she?? Why did she just run off like this over a badge if she’s supposed to be my escort? She knew I had an Egg! I don’t even have to follow her, but she sounds like she’s in danger! I just need to capture these Murkrow, if anything. Kai, where are you?? I’m going to save her. I have to! Where were Kai’s Pokemon? Did they lose her? Am I gonna find myself surrounded by her Bugs? If something happens to her, what would happen to her Pokemon?
Gary leaped over rocks and other stuff that was blurry in his sprint, unable to recognize or distinguish them from anything else, all kinds of questions, both relevant and not, flooding his mind. He swallowed, completely nauseous and starting to fear he would throw up. Focus, Gary. You’ll be just fine. Just focus on finding Kai.
The boy was startled when he actually ended up bursting right out from the trees and into a huge, open plain of grass. And not far after was the mouth of a cave. He looked around, seeing not one sign of life. If she’s not out here, could she be in that cave?
As if deliberately answering his question, the scream of a woman was heard, echoing out from the cave!
“Kai!” Gary took off for the inside. She’s here! Once he was in, he slowed his running, but never stopped moving. It was dark inside, but he could see his way. But he finally did stop upon seeing that there were so many different paths in front of him! I’ll never be able to find her at this rate! But, can I really abandon her a second time? Bad enough I never got her help after falling off the mountain... I can’t give up! I couldn’t live with myself if I did this again! He inhaled deeply to call out, but stopped, realizing that even if Ranger Kai did hear him and respond, he wouldn’t know where to go. It was then that his eyes widened on something on the ground that sat in front of one of the openings.
A clump of white substance.
Gary walked over to it and lowered himself down. What is this? It looks like- A cry up ahead made him look up. He stood and walked into the opening and stopped where more of the white stuff sat. After kneeling down again, he poked it this time. “Whoa,” he muttered, trying to free himself from the stuff. It remained stuck to the ground and stretched, also sticking to his finger. When he grabbed it with his other hand, both hands were stuck in the stuff! It’s almost like... A web? String Shot, even? After a struggle to stand, he finally broke free and shook his hands, sticky remains still on them.
Another sound up ahead made Gary freeze. Crap. He hovered his hand over his Poke Balls, unsure of which one to grab. What’s coming? he wondered. A Pokemon? Human? What should I grab? Who can stop whatever this is?
The noise cried out again in a shrill, high-pitched voice.
Gary scooped up a Poke Ball and tossed it.
Or, he tried to. The Poke Ball ended up stuck to his hand, flying out but returning back due to the sticky gunk! Nonetheless, it sent out the Pokemon within.
“Magikarp! Magikarp! Magikarp! Magikarp!” Magikarp flopped pathetically.
Screaming out, the little attacker leaped forward from the darkness in front of them! A very little attacker. It was even shorter than Magikarp.
“Caterpie??” Gary realized.
Caterpie ran up to Magikarp and greeted him happily before scurrying past and stopping close to Gary’s feet, looking up at him desperately. It whined and then ran off, past Magikarp, and then stopped, looking back at Gary.
String Shot, Gary realized. That’s this stuff! He looked at his Poke Ball still stuck to his hand. “You’re Kai’s Caterpie, aren’t you?”
Caterpie cried out, nodding. It then turned and scurried off.
“Wait! HEY!” Gary returned Magikarp and ran after Caterpie down the dark unknown. He went past glob after glob of String Shots that Caterpie had trailed down and before long, he was outside again! “Whoa! Where are we??”
Below them stood an entire, gigantic, maze! And more! It looked like a purposely designed, stone arena. Even where Gary stood was a part of the design, other high-reaching areas also around him. There were huge boulders taller than grown adults, the walls of the maze just as high. Even higher platforms were the size of whole buildings! Some structures even had plantlife and trees atop them! The area extended out beyond Gary’s view.
Gary cleared his throat. What is all this? It looks like a ruin! He walked through a large patch of grass, getting a better look at what was below.
Short, stone pillars, more trees, and even-
Gary gasped, turning to feel something on his leg.
Caterpie was crawling up it!
Gary’s gasp got louder and harder and turned into a squeal as he leaned away from his own limb!
Caterpie ended up on Gary’s shoulder, taking in the view.
The boy from Pallet Town shivered, disgusted, grossed out, and yet, it wasn’t exactly the worst experience of his life. He groaned out a little bit, but he held in the urge to fling the Pokemon off of him and withstood the moment. It’s not that bad. It’s not that bad, he chanted. Caterpie, compared to other Bug Pokemon, aren’t that bad! But he felt like his shoulder was beginning to grow a mind of his own, and it was taking all he could with every fiber of his being to keep his shoulder from shaking Caterpie off. Then the skin on the back of his neck started crawling, but he couldn’t move to itch it. Soon, his arms were begging to be scratched. Followed by his legs. I can’t. Can’t. Do. This. Gonna. Freak! Help! I’m trembling so hard right now, I’m gonna fall right off this ledge and-! Gary turned at the sight of something.
Caterpie cried out, turning at the same thing.
Wait! I’m not trembling! Gary saw. The ground is quaking from those-!
GOLEM! A whole pack of Golem were tumbling in their ball shape, rolling along one of the maze paths below!
Gary and Caterpie watched them together. “Wow! Wild Golem in a place like this! I mean, I guess it makes sense.”
Caterpie agreed, nodding.
When the Golem were gone, Gary looked around for someplace else to move to. “How do we even get out of here? And where’s Kai?”
Caterpie leaped off of Gary’s shoulder and walked away.
Glad that the Bug was off of him, Gary gave a grateful shudder. He was about to finally relieve his body’s discomfort with scratches until he remembered the Poke Ball still stuck to his hand, and realized he would be stuck with his hands to his body if he scratched his itches. Grumbling, he could only shake himself and then followed Caterpie. However, he stopped at a new, equally powerful rumbling. “Again?”
Caterpie had stopped at the same time and looked.
Now, it was an Onix that was tearing through the maze, following where the Golem had moved through!
Is it chasing the Golem? Gary wondered. What kind of place is this? Is it like some kind of ancient ruin where people used to live, or worship or something? Some kind of pyramid, maybe? When Onix was gone, Gary continued following Caterpie.
There were still more balls of String Shot leading them somewhere. They ended up entering a new cave before Gary yelled, “HA!” He had gotten his hand free from the Poke Ball, holding it by just the tips of the fingers of his other hand! Smiling, he looked to Caterpie, who stared at him momentarily and then continued forward.
The exit of this cave was lit by slowly brightening light from the sky, the morning showing itself bit by bit.
By the time the two stepped outside, now on a lower level of the maze, Gary had managed to free one hand of all the sticky and ball it up, using that to get the rest off his other hand. He looked up at walls that were well over his head, reaching out and stopping just short of touching the aged, damaged walls of a time long past. I guess I wouldn’t want to stick this to these seemingly ancient walls, right? That’d be a disrespect if they really are ruins. And, I mean, they have to be! Right? How did we get here? Is Kai okay? Wasn’t it her I heard screaming? Was she taken somewhere? Maybe by an ancient, hidden civilization of cannibals? Gary just shook his head at this wild thought. Couldn’t be. Right?
Still following more String Shots, Caterpie was now leading Gary down a set of stone steps. Continuing on, its pace started to pick up as it made a right, and then scurried forward before making a left.
Gary stopped to place his hand on the stone ground and after a short effort, freed it from the sticky ball, leaving it on the ground. After all, Caterpie already violated the floor leaving these nasty things behind, Gary reasoned before he jogged after the Bug. He also kept a Poke Ball in his hand. “Caterpie?” he called gently. Should I stay quiet? Are we about to be in danger? Gary turned the corner, but Caterpie was gone! There was a trail of String Shots leading the way ahead, so he moved, running now. Kai, hang on. I’m here.
He stopped at a crossroad going to his left and right, but there was no trail of String Shots to follow! I can’t stop, now! Gary knew, and chose to go left. The path curved right, and Gary nearly ran right into a wall! “A dead end!” He backed away from the wall and turned, running back where he came from. At least it wasn’t the wrong choice and kept going! Gary thought gratefully. But where’s Caterpie? Where’s its Strings? Why’d they stop? He went straight ahead, ignoring the turn, and taking the following turn going right. He slowed down, out of breath as he saw something halfway down the long path. “Kai!”
It was Ranger Kai, Caterpie, and someone else.
Ranger Kai was bouncing on her feet, her hands clasped in front of her overjoyed face.
The third party was a tall male, wearing an all-brown outfit of slacks, a T-shirt, and worn out shoes with a big hole in each one, no socks visible. His clothing looked old, filthy, and smelly.
“Kai?” As Gary got closer, he got a better look at the man, keeping his wary eyes on him.
The man’s face held a huge beard, his mouth almost entirely hidden under it. His long, brown hair almost covered his eyes entirely, reaching down past his face. He looked unhealthy and like he was in need of a bath, a home, and a job. He had to be a bum.
“I love you sooooo much! Hold on, no one is gonna believe I actually met you! Where have you been all this time?? You’ve been gone from the Castelia City Gym for nearly seven years! Hold on, I have a camera. Cam. Ra. Camera. Let me just-” She took off her big bag and set it on the ground, getting to her knees to go through it.
Who is this guy? And why is Kai all over him? Did she say something about him working in a Gym? Like, a Gym Leader??
The man looked at Gary, Gary staring right back.
“Oh, Gary. Great timing!” Ranger Kai exclaimed, finally noticing him. “I lost the Murkrow, but look what I got instead! Burgh, one of the greatest users of Bug type Pokemon, ever!” She stood up and ran to Gary, holding out a shiny black camera.
“Huh?” Not knowing what was going on, he just took it.
Ranger Kai walked over to the man named Burgh and leaned forward, poking out her butt towards him. “Now take a photo of our butts!” she smiled. She looked to Burgh. “Just lean a little like this for me, okay?”
Burgh looked to the strange woman, and then swiftly swung out his hand at her, slamming something against her head!
Ranger Kai cried out in pain as she collapsed to the hard ground and didn’t move.
Caterpie gasped along with Gary. The Bug crawled off as quickly as it could away from them and stopped behind Gary.
Gary now saw that Burgh had a silver gun in his hand!
Breathing hard, Burgh kept his gaze on the woman.
The Ranger groaned and stirred. Slowly, she started to sit up. “Burgh...?” She looked up at him weakly and then lowered herself, nearly hitting the floor. One hand rose to her head and she held it as she looked back up at the man. “What’s going on?”
With an angry shout, Burgh kicked her in the stomach and forced his foot against her to keep her down.
“HEY!” Gary started to move forward, but Burgh held the gun out at him, stopping him.
“Don’t even think about it,” the man growled. “I’ve come too far to have my work stopped by the likes of you two.”
Ranger Kai was on her stomach, breathing hard but not struggling against Burgh’s foot on her back. She did strain to look back at the man, though.
“Who are you?! Why are you doing this?? Why are you here?” Gary pleaded. “We don’t mean you any harm! We just got lost!”
“Oh, a likely story. You’ve been following me. They’ll put anyone up to the job these days, huh? Even training a child and a woman to hunt me down. I’m sure you’re nothing more than son and mother, right?” Burgh rolled his eyes. “HA!” He then leaned over and pat Ranger Kai’s body down continuously with his free hand. “Unarmed? No way.” He looked to Gary. “They wouldn’t give only the child the weapon... Would they?” He pointed the gun at Ranger Kai. “Drop your weapon or I’ll kill her!!”
Gary raised his arms. “Sir, I don’t own a weapon!” My gun! Gary remembered. I’m not supposed to own a weapon, but I do! His mouth dropped open, but he couldn’t find any more words to speak.
“I’ll do it!!” Burgh threatened, shaking the gun hard. “You tell your backup that the moment they show up, they’ve got two dead agents on their hands!!”
“Mister, sir! Please! I’m not a damn agent! My name is Gary, and I’m from the Kanto region, in Pallet Town! I don’t know what you’re after but me and that Ranger are innocent! We got lost chasing a bunch of-!”
“Bullshit!”
BANG!
Gary screamed and stumbled backwards, tripping over Caterpie and falling quickly. He shut his eyes hard. KAI!! He started to tear up quickly, and soon was crying, hot tears rolling down his eyes. Kai! He sobbed openly. “Kai! What have you done?? Why?!” I’m dead, next, Gary knew, too frightened to open his eyes. Too afraid to see the gun that would end his life next. “Why did you have to kill her?”
“That was nothing but a warning shot.”
“Huh?” Gary was still unable to open his eyes.
“I shot at the ground, but next time, your partner will be headless!”
Taking in a shaky breath, Gary squinted. He saw Ranger Kai and shut his eyes again quickly, afraid he’d witness a bloody mess.
“Gary,” Ranger Kai groaned. “I’m fine.”
“Huh?” Gary now opened his eyes and saw that Ranger Kai was okay!
Caterpie was also looking over at its Trainer, shivering.
“I’m okay. Don’t worry.” She smiled at him, but the side of her head was running in blood. Her smile faded just a bit as she turned to Burgh. “Burgh, what is it that you think we want from you? I’m nothing but a huge fan of yours.” With an exhausted sigh from keeping her head up, she rested one side on the ground.
“You won’t be able to take it from me,” he spoke with tight aggression and insistence. “What I’ve gone through, what I survived, is not up for sale and I will die before I let you take this from me. That aside, me dying is not an option.” He stopped, sneering down at Ranger Kai and then turning to Gary. “If I let you two live, especially you, boy, I have a longer chance of surviving to get my work done. It won’t be like if I actually kill you. It’d be over for me, then. They’d know exactly where to find me and would get me in an instant. But if I let you two live... It’s the same thing, isn’t it...? There’s no way out of this. I have to get out of this and escape. I have to save the world.”
“Save the world? How do you mean?” Ranger Kai questioned. “Ow...” she then moaned, closing her eyes.
“The same way you guys want to. We both think we’re doing what’s best, but you’re deluded and I’m the sane one! The actual genius! It’s why you want my research, but you can’t have it. I’ll be the one to bring mankind to the next stage of evolution, and you won’t take credit and dispose of me!”
“Burgh, I love you!” she insisted, love and adoration heavy on her smiling face as she looked outward, but not directly at the crazy man. “Even with you holding a gun to me, I wouldn’t let anyone hurt you and-”
“A likely story of seduction, you spy!” Burgh snarled. “You must be new to this job. Why else would they send a temptress unarmed? Unless you’re more of a threat than I assumed. Talking me down so you can set up your assassin technique on me.” Burgh shook his gun threateningly at her.
Ranger Kai lifted her head up and, still smiling, looked to the man standing on her. “Burgh, I won’t do anything to you. Kill me if you must. It’s been an honor to meet you. An honor to die by your gun.” Keeping her smile, she rested her head again and closed her eyes, letting out her breath.
With a shrill cry, Caterpie crawled over to where Burgh was, a determined look on its face.
“Caterpie, don’t!” Gary insisted.
Burgh’s face went from enraged at the sound of Caterpie, and swiftly turned to a more sorrowful look as he seemed to realize what was coming towards him.
Caterpie got closer.
Ranger Kai gasped. “Caterpie!” She looked at Burgh, her eyes widening.
Caterpie stopped at Burgh’s feet, crying out to him.
Burgh bared his teeth, watching the Bug seeming to plead before him. The gun fell from Burgh’s hand.
And Ranger Kai and Gary both gasped when Burgh fell to his knees and broke down in tears!!
Gary couldn’t believe his eyes. He was still shaken up over thinking Ranger Kai had been killed, but now things had taken a whole new turn!
Ranger Kai was gaping at the sight, but she started to smile and carefully got to her knees. She rubbed at the blood running down her face before wiping at her eyes with her clean hand.
Within seconds, Burgh was hugging Caterpie, weeping against the Pokemon.
“Now that’s the Burgh I know and love,” Ranger Kai nodded, getting to her feet.
What’s going on? Gary was too afraid to ask out loud.
“Do you trust us, now? Or at least me?” Ranger Kai got closer to the man.
The man nodded, sniffling against Caterpie.
The Bug type’s feelings towards this moment were hard to read, but it wasn’t resisting. It may have even been comfortable with the Bug Trainer.
“And I have all of these guys, too!” Ranger Kai sent out every Pokemon she had on her.
“Swwwadlooooon!!”
“Galvantula!”
“Ari!”
Kricketune joined in, appearing from his Poke Ball as Dunsparce just happened to burst up from the ground, everyone greeting Burgh.
“Oh there you are Dunsparce,” Ranger Kai said simply, smiling gently at her before looking back to Burgh.
“I could never distrust a Bug type Pokemon, the most purest and innocent of all the types of Pokemon!” Burgh cried, and all of Ranger Kai’s Pokemon moved in to get closer, somehow seeming to be drawn in by the man.
The very scene of Bugs crawling and moving to Burgh made Gary’s skin crawl, but he found that he couldn’t look away, watching in awe.
“Ghost types ain’t so bad, either!” Ranger Kai beamed happily. “I really need to get me a few.”
“Can you two ever forgive me for what I’ve done?” Burgh begged. “I’d do anything. Almost.”
“Anythiiiiing...?” Ranger Kai had a crazy look on her face as she beamed down at the man like a lunatic.
“Almost,” Burgh repeated nervously, looking up at Ranger Kai while clutching her Caterpie for dear life.
The Bug in his arms was choking out for air.
*
Gary covered his ears while in a sitting position as the ground rumbled. “WHEN IS THIS GONNA STOOOOP???!!” he bellowed angrily.
Ranger Kai was also sat on her back end, covering her ears but smiling. “JUST LET HER LET IT OUT!! SHE’S NOTHING BUT-!!” The ground had stopped quaking and a pleased look came over her face. “Huh? Oh! See? She’s stopped!”
Riolu was on her knees in front of the big Snorlax who was sitting.
The Snorlax had been crying and screaming and slamming her hands and feet into the ground, quaking the land, scaring off wild animals, and flooring both of the humans. But now, she had gone quiet listening to Riolu.
“This is a little dangerous...” Gary mumbled at Ranger Kai as he cautiously lowered his arms. “Though, not as dangerous as what you did earlier today.”
“Huh?” Ranger Kai lowered her hands from her ears, turning to Gary with confusion. “What do you mean?”
“KAI!” Gary yelled angrily. “You let a criminal who threatened to kill us, go, in exchange for his phone number!”
“I can’t be expected to break the trusted promise of the Bug type Pokemon!” she answered joyfully as she stood.
“He’s probably an actual murderer! You’re the law, basically! This isn’t about the oath of Bugs or whatever, Kai! You two can’t even really carry on a relationship!”
“We’ll make it work. To think, I’m now in a committed relationship, let alone with one of the hottest butts there is, and a master of Bug type Pokemon!” Ranger Kai gushed. “A man so dedicated and committed to them, that he trusted in my Bug types that I was an honest-to-goodness woman, made just for him, and I’d never do him wrong!”
“I don’t get it. Your Pokemon told him that, and you honor Bug types, yet you sold him out to the authorities. Which is what you should have done, but you’re acting like you didn’t.”
Ranger Kai looked down at Gary, disapproval of what he had said on her face. “No. I didn’t do that. I told him I’d forgive him, and offered him my eternal love. I still have a job to do, though. There’s a difference. The police have already apprehended him.” She looked ahead. “App. Re. Hended. Apprehended.”
The two had gotten out of the stone maze a while ago and retrieved Gary’s Pokemon and Egg where he had left them, which Ranger Kai scolded him for doing, Gary arguing he couldn’t take the huge Egg and put it in danger, also throwing in that he was trying to save her! Arguing all the way until they had reached a Pokemon Center in the middle of those same woods, Ranger Kai then alerted the authorities of what had happened with Burgh, and after the two had gotten their Pokemon back from the Nurse Joy, they had left, continuing on to Hearthome City.
They now stood in the middle of a light rain, a few of their Pokemon outside of their Poke Balls. No one was bothered by the weather.
Gary inhaled deeply, proudly, a comforting feeling holding him thanks to the falling water. He looked behind him. Letting out his breath, he smiled at the Pokemon in his group.
Electivire grunted at him calmly.
Snorlax scratched at her stomach, smiling down at Riolu.
Gary looked down, grinning at his little Pokemon. Looking back up at Snorlax, he thought to himself, six more to go, Kiwi.
Riolu cried out at him happily and nodded.
Gary nodded back. “Alright, everyone!” He pointed ahead. “Let’s get to the next place already!”
“We’re not far, now!” Ranger Kai chimed in and she leaped for joy, Swadloon also cheering in her arms.
Dunsparce and Caterpie jumped together in celebration, but Dunsparce remained in the air as Caterpie landed.
Kricketune had also called out happily.
Gary breathed out, smiling at them. He rubbed at his cheek as he felt some discomfort around these Bugs. But he also didn’t feel as bad as he would have expected to.
His eyes ended up focusing on Ranger Kai, and they tightened. He took in an annoyed breath. But this woman, on the other hand, he thought bitterly. She just... I could just... One of these days, I’m gonna-!!
“What’s wrong with you, Gary?” Ranger Kai asked, her eyes wide and worried.
“Huh?” Instantly, Gary felt a calm take over his body. “Whoa...” he whispered. He raised his hands a little and stared at them. He could feel his face relaxing, and he knew he had just been frowning! Frowning? he questioned. At what? Why?
“Why were you giving me such an evil look?” Ranger Kai frowned at him. “Like you had a problem with me or something? Like you wanted to kill me out here in the middle of the woods and hide my body where no one would find it and steal all of my Pokemon or something like that?”
Ranger Kai kept on talking suspiciously about him, but Gary ignored the rest. I was mad at her? Just the sight of her just now made me so furious, but why? As nuts as she is, and as much as I want to get rid of her already, I don’t hate her! Not like that! What came over me just now...? I’ve gotta be out of my mind! I didn’t even realize I was that angry until she called out to me? Am I going crazy??
“I’m talking to you, here! He-llllooooooo!” Ranger Kai waved her arms before dropping them again and squinting into the air. “Tal. King. Talking. Talk. Ing. Talking.”