Swanna Song, Sung Throughout Sinnoh

“AND NOW THEY’RE TRYING TO RECRUIT YOU??!!” Gary’s mother exploded.

I knew I shouldn’t have told her that... Gary regretted. Why in the world-?

“Or maybe you should join them!!” Gary’s mom said wildly.

Gary couldn’t tell if this was serious or sarcastic. Not only based on her tone, but just knowing his mom.

“At least they could offer you protection. They would keep in contact with me, your mother, and tell me if anything happened to you. I didn’t know a thing about where your sister was for over a year! At least with Team Solace watching over you, I can be told something!”

“And how do you know what they offer, mom?!” Gary demanded.

“Because I watch the news and I see them when they hack the news reports to get out their messages! They want to help parents live at peace! That’s all I want, Gary! Peace of mind! It’s what their name is all about! Solace! It means peace! Why do these monsters mean more to you than me? Or yourself? Your friends, even!”

Gary’s mouth hung open as he tried to speak. He shook his head at his mother from the other side of the computer screen in the Pokemon Center. “Pokemon are my friends. They are my family! Why can’t you just accept that?”

“Because you’re all I have left, due to Pokemon.”

Gary had no response to this.

“It’s because of them that I have nothing else left.”

Gary shook his head. “Team Solace is taking advantage of that. They’re manipulating you. Parents like you. It’s wrong!”

“My daughter and husband are dead. You’re only lucky to still be alive.”

“That Ray guy is a lunatic. A maniac. I’ve met him before in Celadon City. I know him. At least, somewhat. He’s bad, mom.”

“Then don’t join with Team Solace. Just come home!”

“You know I won’t do that!”

Gary’s mother shook her head, her eyes watering. “I don’t understand why you call. Do you enjoy seeing me cry?” She sniffled and as tears rolled out of her eyes, she wiped at them.

Gary closed his eyes, not wanting his mother to see him beginning to cry. He lowered his head and shook his head. “I love you, mom. But I know what’s wrong, and what’s right. Team Solace is evil and they have to be stopped. I can take a stand against them.”

“Is this stand worth making me suffer over? Is it worth dying for, Gary?” Gary’s mom asked. “If you die, ‘accidentally,’ at the hands of Pokemon, will that have been worth it?”

There was heavy silence between them both.

“This will never end, will it? We’ll just keep having this conversation until the day that we don’t because one of us is dead.”

Gary stared at his mother without a word, desperate not to cry.

“It’s just circles between us. Over and over again. For what? You’ll never understand.”

An answer in his mouth, Gary chose not to let it out. It really does feel like it’s just the same conversation over and over again, he told himself. What’s the point in all of this? “I’m halfway through my journey in Sinnoh. I have four Badges, with four more to go,” he responded blandly, with no life or energy with him at this point. “I think that might just be the exact same space I was in the last time we spoke. I can’t exactly recall. I’ve been through a lot, I guess, ha ha,” Gary smiled loosely.

His mother breathed out tiredly, closing her eyes. “I’ll bet.”

“I’ll speak to you soon, Mom.”

“We’ll see,” was his mother’s response.

*

“I can’t believe you would send an injured Pokemon like this over here!! How could you do this?!! AGAIN??!!” Kiwi raged.

“Kiwi, I was trying to save it! I found that Larvitar injured!”

“This is the third time you’ve sent an injured Pokemon here! Have you not seen my text messages and phone calls and voice messages I’ve left you?!!”

“No, I haven’t really been on my phone. I only just got out of the woods. I’ve really been through a lot recently, you know! I didn’t get to check the phone when I got here at Hearthome City! I told you about everything that’s happened, Kiwi!”

“Gary, if I didn’t know you, you’d be in jail right now! I swear it!”

“Kiwi, you know I wouldn’t be sending you injured Pokemon for fuuuun!”

“I already said that’s the only reason I haven’t sent the cops after you,” Kiwi snapped.

Gary sighed.

“I’m really glad you’re okay, Gary,” she breathed out, lowering her head. “I’m so grateful. You surviving yet another encounter with that monster is miraculous. I wonder if it means anything.”

“Means something? Like what?”

Kiwi raised her head, but her eyes remained down. “I don’t know. You’re both...” She shook her head. “I don’t know. I need more time to think. I’m so busy, I’m not even thinking straight.” Her eyes raised as they lit up with sudden excitement and she smiled. “Oh! And, thanks for sending Porygon-Z back! Work is so much easier with it around!!” Kiwi suddenly gushed.

At once, Porygon-Z appeared! It nuzzled up against Kiwi’s cheek, Kiwi nuzzling it right back. “Que cute!”

Gary smiled at this. “Glad he’s still not causing issues!”

Porygon-Z turned to Gary and moved from Kiwi. It let out a gentle, happy cry so close to the screen. Suddenly, it vanished!

“Whoa! Where’d it go?!” Gary stared with surprise. “GAAAAAAAAAAHH!!”

Porygon-Z’s head poked out through Gary’s screen! It cried out happily and then went back into the screen. It was back beside Kiwi!

Kiwi couldn’t have looked happier with the Pokemon back again.

Gary breathed out. “Really, man...?” he muttered tiredly. “Oh! Hey, Kiwi. I actually wanted to ask you something about June’s Pokemon. Do you know anything about how they’re recovering?”

“I’ve been keeping very close tabs about that, actually. They’re doing a lot better. I might even say you could have them sent over to you if you’re up to the job.”

Gary smiled meekly. “Ha... I didn’t say all that,” he replied, thinking about all that he had to take care of already.

“Is a woman’s job too much for you to handle?” Kiwi teased. “June, Nurse Joys, they can do the work just fine.”

“I can handle it! I’m already raising ten Pokemon, which is what she had!”

“Still nothing compared to what the Nurse Joys you love so much have to handle.”

Gary’s face started burning with embarrassment. “June likes to raise her Pokemon on her own! She doesn’t like leaving them with others! When she’s back, she can take care of them!” Gary went quiet, his face going more solemn as his mind drifted. It wasn’t but yesterday that you had accepted June was dead, Gary, he told himself. He swallowed, and a second swallow followed.

Kiwi herself was quiet, staring sadly at her friend.

“While we’re on the subject, how’s my pal Barboach been these days?”

“She’s just great, too,” Kiwi spoke softly. “Still not anything I’d say is battle ready, but she’s in otherwise sturdy enough shape. No need to be concerned about her.”

“That’s great. I just wish she were fully fine. Battling or not. And Deino’s been good, right?”

“Yes. He’s quite the active one. A little bit troublesome, even, hee hee. He’s adorable.”

“Oh, no! Is he causing problems?”

“He gets into a lot of fights, if I’m honest, but he’s just energetic. He’s no problem, Gary.”

“Okay, then. Maybe I’ll bring him back here for a bit.”

“All up to you. I also noticed that you’re only four Pokemon away from getting that Poke Radar.”

“That’s right! I’m almost there, Kiwi!” he smiled proudly.

She nodded, keeping a calm smile. “Oh, and before I forget, your Tyranitar has been really down. I suspect he misses you.”

“Tyranitar?”

“Yeah. I’m sure you remember him.”

“Duh. I just don’t understand why you’re saying he misses me.”

“Because he’s very lacking in energy. And he eats well enough, but he should be eating more for his size. I expect you to do what’s right.”

Gary lowered his eyes, narrowing his eyebrows. Finally, he looked back at Kiwi. “Of course,” he nodded.

“Huh?” Kiwi wasn’t looking back at Gary, but was looking behind her as someone was speaking. “Oh, okay. I’ll take it now.” She returned to Gary. “I have work to do.”

“Oh, that’s fi-!”

Kiwi had already ended the call.

“Now is that really necessary??” Gary barked, hanging up on his end.

“You pipe down over there!” Nurse Joy yelled from behind the counter.

“Sorry!” Gary called back nervously.

She muttered under her breath, looking away.

Gary looked down uncomfortably. It’s about time to leave already. Like, yesterday ago. But I can’t leave yet... I promised to meet up with Ish and Tiny one last time. And also, and most importantly, I need to find out what happened to Kai. Especially after all she did to help me.

*

Gary and Electivire walked through the tremendous city of Hearthome. At the same time that he was trying to take his time exploring and hopefully find clues on where Ranger Kai was, he was also taking time out to get his mind together and get all the information he could from a friend about something else. He looked up from his phone to see what used to be the Gym of the Ghost type Gym Leader, Fantina.

It was a huge, four-story house with a big balloon on top of it. According to what Gary looked up, the balloon was designed after the Blimp Pokemon Drifblim, a Ghost and Flying type Pokemon that evolves from Drifloon. The building was left intact with the belief it would scare off Ghosts that were said to haunt the city from time to time, which Gary knew couldn’t be working out too well thanks to his encounter with Fred.

Now, the building was maintained by a friend of Fantina, named Johanna, who also was the mother of Top Coordinator, Dawn, of Twinleaf Town. Johanna, herself a retired Top Coordinator, was even offered the Gym Leader position, but declined. The woman seemed to be keeping up with the building, the Drifblim balloon wearing a giant Santa hat and decorated in big colors and seasonal drapings, the rest of the building surrounded with a bunch of big, plastic and inflatable dolls of Pokemon like Oranguru, Glaceon, Snorlax, Misdreavus, Empoleon, and Jellicent. Snowflake stickers, tinsel, and posters of various other Pokemon playing in the snow wearing seasonal clothing were in as many places as they could be fit. It wasn’t a sloppy job, either, everything looking very purposely and expertly set up. With the sun high in the sky, the decorated building came off extra bright and beautiful.

Gary stared at his phone. He was back on Pokebay, talking in the private messages with his friend OrangeIChamp, someone he hadn’t spoken to in a long time. Since he was in Canalave City, in fact. They finally were catching up.

GaryReppinKanto: I can’t believe she’s still out destroying Gyms. Is there any motive? Has she spoken to people?

While waiting for a response, he kept walking. He had fed his Pokemon earlier, not wanting to rely on Nurse Joy anymore, or anyone in this city. He didn’t try stocking up on supplies, and didn’t even want to ask if anyone had seen Ranger Kai. Something not clear to Gary was off about this place, warning the boy that he was better off sticking to himself out here.

Ish and Psychic Tiny promised to pick Gary up after Ish got off work, so until then, he was on his own. Gary didn’t really want to hang out with anyone, but he also felt like he needed to vent to someone in real life. Some true friends he felt comfortable with. And he felt really cool and comfortable around Ish. It was kind of like he was his older brother or something. Melissa vibes of some sort? he wondered in the moment. That older, wiser, overbearing feeling? He wasn’t sure, but he did know that he couldn’t wait to see his friend again.

There was a store with Christmas decorations in the windows, Gary noting that at the top of the front of the building was a display of a little barn, hay all over the floor of it. Arceus was floating in the middle, looking down at a Piplup, Chimchar, and Turtwig sleeping cuddled together.

Gary was familiar with this image, and it often varied, sometimes including a different trio of Pokemon in front of Arceus, more Pokemon, or even people. But Arceus was always there.

He refreshed the page on his phone and saw a new message from his online friend.

OrangeIChamp: She doesn’t hasn’t spoken, no. But Gym Leaders are starting to leave their positions. Before you, you imgit not have any ppl left to challenge. Their might not even me a league left.

So you really dont agree with my theory i told you? What the monster is?

Gary hesitated, wondering what to say. Finally:

GaryReppinKanto: Ive thought a lot about it, tryna pout it all together, but what your saying doesnt add up, man. I can’t go off of mythology. I need something more concrete than that. Even if she were some kind of ancient, Pokemon humanoid hybrid thing from way back, or some kind of Pokemon anomaly. If, as you’re claiming, Pokemon used to be human, human were Pokemon, they were the same, what does that even mean? I want to know all I can about her, but I need a lot more than rumors. I need science for this. I can’t depend on ancient texts to stop this, man.

Gary kept walking after sending his message. He stopped in front of the yellow police tape blocking off the Amity Square.

The front of the big building had a display with a bunch of silly Pokemon on the front, entertaining for any baby or child.

Still shut down from the Regigigas attack, Gary remembered. The attack... Or was it just an appearance? Now, Gary couldn’t remember the news report he had heard. I know it ran out here and then vanished underground, Gary continued thinking, narrowing his eyebrows as his thoughts kept moving. Now he was reflecting on the first time he saw Regigigas in person. Why was that monster with a Regigigas? A Legendary Pokemon. And the other three Regis, too?

Gary had just done the insane, leaping out of Team Solace’s helicopter with a furious roar to go after the flying monster! Tackling her into the waters below!

Once underwater, the skin on the monster’s neck split in eight places, four slits on each side, greatly resembling gills!

Gary’s arms shot out as if he weren’t obstructed by the water, moving freely and with complete control. His mouth opened bravely and he tightened his fists on the monster’s face. He let out a roar, trying to rip her face apart right there and then!

The monster’s drenched hair 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 them, even covering the gaping space between her eyes and the skin of her face. Bubbles appeared around her head, most of them sticking on her, but some also rising to the surface.

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 caught her wrist, squeezing and somehow holding it back! With his other hand on her face, he dug a thumb into her eye.

The monster didn’t react to this at all, rather staring at her hand being stopped by Gary.

I can do this! I can beat her! Gary urged himself on. And then, he 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!

What happened there? Gary found himself thinking, and realized it was a question he had just been trying to avoid facing. What happened to me underwater? I have a bad fear of swimming. I can’t swim! So why did I...? What even was I doing? I was able to move so freely and-

Gary’s hand shot out and gripped the monster’s wrist, squeezing and holding it back.

How? That’s just impossible, Gary knew. Maybe she’s the one who can’t move right in the water! Maybe that’s why? Perhaps underwater, or even when wet, she has a weakness? But does that prove she really is a Pokemon?? And, back to the point, what about me? I fought her, underwater! It was as if- Gary paused.

As if what? he questioned himself. Why were you so able-bodied? You held off the monster, even if for just a couple of seconds. Even if she isn’t strong in the water, neither are you! And what about the Infinity Energy Regigigas had? Why do they have it? What’s the big idea, here?

He refreshed the page on his phone, but he didn’t have a reply from his friend so he continued walking by street lights that were off and past tents and crowds of people looking ready for a Christmas event to take place; a whole festival. He ignored the tents calling out to him and moved along before stopping in front of a tall building with a pink dome top, the design of a white ribbon on the front. For the Pokemon Super Contest Hall, Gary knew. Whatever. He had zero interest in Contests.

He turned from the building and walked further, past houses and other buildings, stopping at the sight of one house that had a front lawn with a life-size Arceus standing in fake snow on the left side, the right of the yard having a life-size Slowking and Phantump together. The Pokemon all wore festive clothes, but Gary couldn’t help but remember about Senator Slowking and Congressmon Oranguru, along with the Phantump Administration. He breathed out, wondering if this display was intentional or not. He didn’t dwell on it long and kept walking.

Leaving the festival behind him, Gary went past a hotel, a building labeled as a Pokemon Fan Club, and plenty of other stuff before he settled for just being beside the Pokemon Center and sighed, checking his phone again.

OrangeIChamp: I hear you bro. I’m not saying its true, but I also dont know what else to say she is. If she sint a hybrid of human and Pokemon, then this might be something beyond that. I do believe in the origins of mankind and humans being the same, but after the two broke apart, what if something else came? Some thing more. What is it’s not human, and not Pokemon at all?

Gary stared at his phone for a while and then hit the home button, returning to the home screen. He didn’t even want to answer that question. There was no answer, and he didn’t even want to say that much.

Even though he was talking to his friend about the monster, he hadn’t told him about being in Team Solace’s helicopter and leaping out of it to fight the monster underwater. He couldn’t tell anybody about that! It was too much to even process, let alone tell others about and expect them to believe it. Even if someone would believe it, Gary just wasn’t able to talk about it right now. He didn’t understand it, and he needed time to digest it first.

His eyes closed as something else came to his mind. The Hope House, he recalled. When inside of the Foreign Building, he had the strangest sensation. He was looking around the building at all the people, and called the building the Hope House. And he even thought there were more people in it than usual. Those weren’t the exact words, but he understood the meaning behind them. Except, why?? he pondered. Why would I be thinking that? I’ve never even been there before! Why did I call it the “Hope House”? What’s a Hope House?

Worst of all was one last thing. He didn’t know how to explain it, but those thoughts he had in his head didn’t really feel like his own. Gary was trying to find the right words to explain what it felt like, but he couldn’t. What he did know, was that it felt exactly like what happened to him inside of Cas’ Gym during their battle. Father Odd, the judge who was disguised as the monster due to the illusions during the battle, had turned to stare at Gary. Gary noted this, but it didn’t feel like he had noted it himself! It was almost like...

Gary’s brain stopped processing, and he shut his eyes and shook his head hard. He was breathing hard as his hands reached up and grabbed at his head hard, feeling his growing hair. I can’t, he told himself. I’m losing it! Calm down, Gary. Come on, man. Just... He was struggling to find the words to keep his head in tact, and it felt like more and more cracks were coming through with each passing couple of seconds. You’re overthinking. You’re not even making any sense. Easy.

He focused more on the feel of his fluffier-than-usual hair. I need a haircut, he thought. Thinking about this seemed to be bringing him back to Earth. He was feeling more relaxed and in control. He breathed out and looked over to see Electivire staring at him. This got his mental feet back on solid ground, and he nodded. “I’m good. Just a headache.”

Electivire just kept his eyes on Gary, staying silent.

Gary swallowed uncomfortably. Hey, I still haven’t spoken to Scientist Gary, Gary considered. Yeah. That’s it. I don’t want to be unappreciative of him after what he did for my phone. He opened up Log-A-Graph and went into his private messages, seeing the sixty-six messages he now had from Scientist Gary alone.

The latest one was a meme: When your son hits you up thinking his gf may be going through depression so you try to be a good dad and text his gf

Dad: You doing ok lately? I was just chicken, per my son.

Sons gf: Sir, are you placing an order? You have the wrong number

Gary stared at the message for a while. Longer than he wished he had. Chicken... Oh... Checking... Checking, per my son... Chicken Parmesan...? Seriously, Gary...? This is what you’re sending me? He scrolled up to an earlier meme:

What I see when a woman calls herself a bad bitch: There was an image of a woman with a section of her face resembling a Mightyena. While cringing and finding Scientist Gary to be beyond annoying at this point, he found himself thinking, staring at this picture for a moment before scrolling up to one more meme.

This one showed the otherwise scary-looking Pokemon Scyther, Kabutops, Bisharp and Golbat, each Pokemon licking a person’s hand.

Gary shuddered. I don’t get it. Am I supposed to be laughing or something? Is this funny?

Gary4Mewtwo: haaaaahahaha! Yo, sorry, but I’ve been so busy! Let’s catch up, man! Im going for my fifth badge!!

Cringing, Gary then returned to the home page of his phone. There. I did my obligatory response as a friend. Now that he knows I have a life, I’m not obligated to respond ever again. I’m done with this app. I’m deleting it.

It wasn’t even ten seconds before his face started twitching. He was struggling angrily with the urge to open the app again to check just one more thing... Don’t do it, he pleaded with himself. Who cares? Don’t! His body tightening, he ended up opening the app. While trying to fight off the urge to continue, he went to his post on his one Badge and could have screamed, settling for a silent one while gritting his teeth. He could have crushed his phone right in his hand. He just couldn’t believe it! It’s still only five Plusles!! WHYYYYY??!!! Gary didn’t even bother checking on Harold’s page at this point.

Instead, he closed his eyes and tilted his head back while taking in a deep breath, his body and mind relaxing as he exhaled. After repeating this a few more times, he found himself thinking about the meme Scientist Gary had sent him with the woman’s face mixed with a Mightyena’s. A hybrid... Some weird mix. Or, even, something else entirely. But I’ve proven it’s not a Pokemon, trying to capture it, yet, we know it’s not human... Then, that’s it. It’s just a monster... Monsters really exist. Maybe there’s different kinds of monsters out there. Monsters, and Pokemon monsters. Does that make any sense? He had been staring blankly at his phone, but he blinked himself back to the real world and noticed something. And what’s this? Gary was looking at a notification that alerted him that he had a voicemail. He played the audio and raised the phone to his ear.

“Hey Nephew! It’s me! Your Uncle Jeff! Your mother gave me your number. Hit me up sometime so we can ketchup, Nephew!”

Gary lowered the phone, frowning. “What?? This has to be one of those prank calls or scams for money. ‘Ketchup.’ What a cornball. ”

“My nigga! Sorry for keeping you waiting, bro. Work was wild.”

Gary locked his phone and smiled, looking up. “Yo! Ish! Tiny!”

Walking together were Ish and Psychic Tiny.

Ish was wearing a puffy black coat that fit him tight, with a gray beanie on his head. He had on dark-blue jeans with matching boots. His face looked beat up and bruised, his left cheek blackened.

Psychic Tiny wore a light-blue coat with a fur hood and black jeans that couldn't have been tighter if they were a glove on a hand.

“You ready to party?” Ish asked.

“Party?” Gary’s eyes widened.

*

“Ish, do you seriously not even know whose party this is?” Gary asked right before he cried out as he was yanked through the open door of the house by Ish.

The music was loud. The people were young, but older than Gary. Everything was looking fun. There were Christmas decorations everywhere, and almost everyone was dressed as Santa to some degree, most people just wearing a Santa hat or a lot of red, many young ladies dressing as a Mrs. Claus who was having a really sexy girls’ night out with other Mrs. Claus’.

Gary felt nervous and uncomfortable, but also enticed.

“Just relax, my nigga. This gonna be one hell of a night for you.”

“But, I’m only eleven! I can’t drink!”

“I can’t hear you over this music, and this mah jam! AAAAAYYYYY!!!” Ish wasn’t dressed for the occasion, but he was in the party mood and started pumping his fist and soon, he disappeared in the crowd.

“ISH!” Gary called out.

“Ish!” Psychic Tiny also called. She smiled at Gary and shook her head, a Santa hat atop her head, and wearing a tight red and white shirt and fit, white jeans. “Just try to enjoy yourself. It’s fun! Stick with me, okay?”

Gary nodded eagerly. But it wasn’t long after they began moving through the crowd, Psychic Tiny mingling with certain guys, that Gary found himself surrounded by unfamiliar bodies.

“Hey, dude. You crash the place?” Gary turned to see a pale guy with a white T-shirt and blue jeans, his feet in dirty white sneakers. His hair was extremely curly and brown. He looked friendly but, to Gary, also looked very typical of a partygoer. Likely a college student.

“Huh? Uh, well...” Gary was stuck. “Yeah...?” he admitted hesitantly, hoping he hadn’t ratted out his friends.

“Holla, brooo,” the guy chuckled, holding out his hand. “That’s what’s up!”

The two exchanged a sloppy handshake, Gary grateful he got it down, sort of. It was the same one Ish used, but drunken.

“Have a drink, bro!” The guy waved Gary to follow after him and he walked out of the main part of the room and into the kitchen.

I am not following after that guy, Gary decided. I need to get my Pokemon out of the Center and get back on my journey. I can’t find Kai, so I have no reason to stay. I’m sorry, Ish, but this just isn’t my crowd!

The entire situation looked strange to Gary. Most people were hardly dancing, just grouped up in the middle of the living room, talking and moving loosely. Some people were dancing hard, like young women in small, sexy clothing writhing their bodies.

Gary wanted to join in with the pretty ones, his eyes glued to their exposed abdomen and revealed cleavage, but there was no way he could do that. He was a kid in a room of adults. That said... Gary considered, if I just keep that part quiet, maybe I could even have a girl for the night! Sure, it’d be wrong to lie, but if no one really found out, it’d just be my little secret and I’d get to kiss a girl! What if I even get to touch one?? The child licked his lips, unable to stop himself imagining sneaking his hands under a woman’s chest and getting to touch the prize of the bra underneath. And what lied underneath the bra! And no one would know my age! So no one would get in trouble!

I can’t do that! Gary panicked.

Suddenly, it hit Gary how open in the middle of the room he was, panicking about imaginary scenarios. He realized how wide his eyes were and tried to relax his face. Maybe nobody was paying him any mind. Maybe just a few people were. But to Gary, he felt like he was standing out now and he decided he had to move, so he ended up in the kitchen after all. He jumped at the little glass that appeared in front of his face.

“I was wondering where you were, bro.” It was the white guy with curly brown hair again.

Gary took the glass hesitantly and grinned. “Yeah,” was all he said.

The kid had his own shot glass, and he held it up. They both clincked them together and at the same time, tossed back the shot.

Not even one second had passed before, “Gaaaaaahhh!”

The guy shook his head and let out a nasty sound with Gary.

“It’s like drinking... rubbing alcohol!” Gary managed to get out of his mouth, breathing out harshly. He couldn’t believe he had managed to swallow that!

The guy agreed, nodding with a strained face but also a slight smirk. “I know, man. Horrible, right?”

“What is that??”

The guy held up a bottle in his other hand. “Grey Yungoose.”

Gary shut his eyes, not even focusing on the bottle. And he kept them shut tight.

*

“These are so delicious!” Psychic Tiny held up a tiny piece of Crawdaunt meat.

“Oh yeah?” Gary opened his mouth, thinking she was aiming it for his face to be devoured.

Psychic Tiny’s eyes widened, hesitating, but she went forth with it towards Gary’s mouth.

Gary panicked at her pause, as it seemed she hadn’t intended to give it to him in this manner. Have I had too much to drink? Am I misinterpreting things properly? To make up for this, he tried to grab at her hand to take the meat, but Psychic Tiny had put the pizza snack in his mouth already. It sure was delicious! He nodded at her, smiling with wide, nervous eyes, and the little woman nodded back, matching his face.

Swiftly, she was yanked up by the arm!

It was Ish who was pulling her away from the sofa she and Gary, along with many others, were sharing. Gary didn’t understand what was going on, but Ish didn’t seem too pleased right now.

With Ish taking Psychic Tiny elsewhere, Gary wondered what that was about and was now feeling self-conscious. He looked around awkwardly and saw a short girl close to him.

She looked Black, which made Gary realize he didn’t recall seeing many, or maybe any, non-White people at this party. She was looking right at him and snickered, motioning with her head at where Ish and Psychic Tiny had last been seen.

Gary simply shrugged innocently, smiling shyly.

The girl giggled.

She’s cute, Gary kept in his head, and he looked away nervously. He then finally spotted Ish and Psychic Tiny heading off somewhere and jumped up. But the girl, Gary told himself. She might be into you. You might get lucky. But... my friends. Gary decided to go after them.

“Hey! Hey, there! How you doin’?” There was a tall guy who was clearly full of alcohol.

Gary finally reached his friends. “Hey! Guys! What’s-?”

“Oh! I don’t think your boyfriend likes me! HA!” the previous guy was now yelling. Looking right at Ish and Psychic Tiny! “I don’t think your boyfriend likes me!!” He burst out laughing, along with a few other guys.

“Wait, is he talking about you guys?” Gary asked Ish and Psychic Tiny. He felt fired up immediately. Who does that guy think he is? Getting angrier, Gary took a step away from his friends and towards the tall guy who seemed to be with a few other tall, young men. But his arm was grabbed and he was yanked back.

“Nah, nah. Let it go. They drunk,” Ish insisted and pushed Gary from the back. “Besides, we ain’t even a couple. Come on, dude.”

In the next instant, Gary was in a kitchen. Not the same one as last time, Gary realized. We’ve been just crashing party after party, house after house. When did we get here again? Oh, yeah, he remembered, seeing himself enter the house. Or was that a different house? They all look the same. He smiled to himself, but it showed outwardly.

“Yo, you good?” Ish asked him.

Gary straightened up and nodded, removing his smile and widening his eyes. “I’m cool!”

“Great. Then let’s all have a jello shot!” Ish gave Gary and Psychic Tiny a plastic shot cup, each one with red gelatin. They tapped them together and took the shot.

Nice! Gary thought. That was awesome! “Yum!”

They all smiled at each other, nodding with satisfaction.

But, Gary added, feeling like he was losing himself in the mix of all he had to drink, things starting to waver in front of him. I think I might die at any minute, now. June... Electivire... Things in his mind were getting mixed. Those old couple who had the Legendary Pokemon... Prof. Cozmo... Trick Master... He swallowed, feeling sick. Gary. Focus! Hey!

There was a loud voice in the background of Gary’s mind.

What is that? Gary wondered. Someone shouting? He stared at his two friends.

Ish and Psychic Tiny looked as relaxed as anyone could, chatting casually, but they were moving unnaturally, their bodies waving and swirling just a bit. Ish then held out another jello shot to Gary and Psychic Tiny. “To the night!”

Gary took it from him, but he didn’t swallow it, watching the two take it instead. He was in a complete daze, trying to will away dizziness, refusing to throw up, and fighting to remain on his own two feet. I’m fine. I’m fine. I’ll be just fine, he repeated to himself. He started raising his cup to his lips.

That loud noise persisted, though. It was someone yelling and laughing crazily.

That is so annoying. Who is that drunk? Blinking hard and then widening his eyes, doing his best to keep his vision steady, Gary looked around the kitchen. There was an open door at the back, and after swallowing to keep anything from coming up, he leaned over to see what was going on.

Outside was a guy in the backyard sitting in a lawn chair laughing and carrying on. The guy’s back was to Gary. “I need someone to drive me home!! Somebody drive me home!! HA HA HA!!”

Gary snickered, shaking his head as he watched the guy. “He is drunk as fuck,” he mumbled. Then he squinted as he realized something. Say, that’s the same guy who was talking to Tiny earlier! Gary recognized. About her “boyfriend” not liking him.

“Somebody!! Drive me home! I need someone to drive me home!!” He kept on laughing and looking around, finally looking behind him and spotting Gary. “NOT YOU, NIGGERRRR!!! HA HA HA!! NOT YOU, NIGGER!!” He turned away, laughing heavily.

Gary froze, still watching the guy. He looked to his friends, who still didn’t seem to have heard anything. Gary’s world was spinning. He let go of his jello shot, unsure of what to do.

Ish and Psychic Tiny didn’t even notice he had dropped his shot, the woman extremely close to Ish now, her body literally on the guy who looked back at her nonchalantly.

Nothing was making sense to Gary. But he did know one thing. He had to take matters into his own hands. He frowned and left, going straight for the guy.

He was still in the chair, laughing it up and shouting wildly.

Gary tapped his shoulder.

The young guy stopped laughing and looked up at Gary. “Huh?” he kept smiling.

Gary bared his teeth and gripped the guy by the front of his shirt.

“Huh??” the guy was now startled.

“Lemme talk to you for a second!!” Gary growled.

“Whoa! HEY!” the guy cried out frightfully.

“Let me ask you something real quick.” Though the guy was a lot taller than him, Gary’s anger was unmatched, and he was ready to have a fight. He dragged the guy over to the house and slammed him against the wall. “What the fuck did you just say over there a moment ago?” He looked vicious, like a well-trained dog just waiting for the word to strike.

“Huh?? What??” The taller guy was freaking out, panicking, confused, and practically crying.

“Did you just call me a nigger??!” Gary bared his teeth like a Houndoom ready to sink its fangs into someone who had just gotten it really pissed off.

“What?!! No way!!” the kid begged. “I would never say that, man! I’m not like that at all! I’m not racist!”

Like magic, Gary suddenly noticed a group of other young White men on either side of the guy he had gripped up. Shit. I’m in trouble, now. Fuck it! Gary gave up all concerns, ready to take them all down, or at least focus on one at a time while the rest would pummel him. He didn’t care what went down tonight! He tightened his grip on the front of the man’s shirt.

“What’s going on?”

“Hold on, what happened?!”

“Hey! Calm down!!”

“Whoa whoa whoa!!”

“Hey!! Wait!! What’s going on?!”

“Dude, what happened?!”

“THIS MOTHERFUCKER JUST CALLED ME A NIGGER EARLIER!!” Gary snarled at the new guys.

“NAAAAH!!”

“No way, dude!!”

“He’s not like that!”

“I swear I didn’t say that!!”

“He’s not like that, man! None of us are!”

While the White boys urged Gary to calm down, let go of their friend, and persistently but politely refuted the accusations being made, Gary started to wonder if maybe, in his drunken state, he in fact did hear wrong! He shook his head, releasing the guy. No way. I know what I heard, he was sure. “NO!” he argued aggressively. His eyes then shot to the door to the kitchen, where Ish and Psychic Tiny were. He then looked back to the boys. “In fact, fuck me! Fuck what you did to me!” He leered at the guy he had let go of. “You,” he pointed, making the guy flinch. “Go take a look in there and then come back out.”

The kid looked to his friends fearfully and then nodded at Gary and walked inside. He came out a couple of seconds later, an exhausted look on his face. As if he knew where this was going.

“You saw who was inside there?” Gary demanded.

The guy nodded, “Yeah.”

“You recognize them?”

“Yeah,” he nodded again, the desperation worsening on his face.

“Remember how you spoke about them earlier tonight? That ‘your boyfriend doesn’t like me’ shit?”

The kid nodded, looking like he was living the worst moment of his life.

Gary nodded back. “Yeah. Now you go in there and apologize for what you said.”

The kid went in quickly, and a couple of moments later, he scurried out. “I said it.” The kid actually had tears rolling down his cheeks now.

“Good. Now if I-” Gary swayed in place. “Next time, if you guys, if I hear you say something like that again about me; if I even think, or even imagine, that you said something like that ever again, I will come back and fuck each and every one of you up!! Got it??!”

The entire group nodded in terror.

“Now all of you GET THE FUCK OUTTA HERE!!!” Gary drunkenly swung his pointed finger outward.

The entire group of White youths took off through the lawn and vanished around the house.

Gary nodded, smiling, fully satisfied, and he leaned up against the wall of the house. Nice. I wonder what Ish and Tiny are gonna say. He could only imagine the praise he’d get.

Seconds later, his two friends came out, walking to him quickly. “Yo! Gary! Nigga, what did you do??”

“What?” Gary asked Ish, feigning innocence.

“Dude, there was a guy in here crying and apologizing saying you were gonna kill him!” Ish burst out.

Gary rolled his eyes, smiling. “I never said that. I just told him to apologize or... I’d beat him up.”

“Dude, you really can’t do that out here, man! Your Black ass threatening these White kids. Their parents are all lawyers and cops and shit. You could get into real big trouble.”

“Oh...” Gary realized the situation he could have just created, but he couldn’t help keeping his smirk. “But you’re happy I did that, aren’t cha?” He smiled bigger as a smirk also crossed Ish’s face, Ish trying to hide it as he shook his head. “Aaaaaaah! Ha ha haaaaaa!” Gary laughed.

Ish didn’t face Gary, but his smile was undeniable.

Psychic Tiny was watching Ish with her own small smile.

*

“I’m begging you to loosen up these garments, babe!” the drunk Psychic Tiny was singing, her body whipping like a lasso, really getting into the seductive song.

Gary couldn’t keep his eyes off of her, her outfit clinging so tight on her body, driving one or two thoughts into the kid’s mind.

Ish was quick to move and pull her away from a crowd that included mostly boys gawking at the woman.

Gary and the Black girl he had been talking to earlier looked away from them and stared at each other with wide eyes and smiled. “Aaaanywaaaay...” the lady chuckled. “Like I was saying, you can’t let things people say get to you like that.” Gary had told her what had happened when they bumped into each other again and they were now sitting back on the same sofa. “People like that, are always gonna start some kind of drama with people like us.”

Gary nodded with wide eyes, listening intently, staring at the cute girl while sipping on his fifth glass of water and starting to feel a little better, though still woozy.

“Don’t let them get the better of you and pull you out of character. We have to-”

There was a sudden commotion at the front of the house as a group of people walked in. The police! “Is it this guy?” One officer grabbed a kid with very dark skin by the arm and yanked upward.

The guy yelled out angrily. “Ay yo what the fuck?!!” he screamed.

“No, him over there!” In front of the officers was the tall guy that Gary had nearly beaten up, and he was pointing right at him!

Gary’s eyes widened and he froze.

The officer shoved the kid he had by the arm aside, the guy hitting the floor, and all of the cops approached Gary at once.

Gary wanted to stand up, but he was shaking now and his body wasn’t responding to his mind’s urges.

“You’re coming with us, you little smart-ass!”

“Wait, but-!” Gary was stuck for words, afraid of what was about to happen next. Damn it! That guy called the poli-! “AAHH!” Gary was hit with a blow by the officer and his head exploded with pain. The room was spinning, and he felt himself getting pummeled by the cops!

“Ain’t so tough now, are ya, boy?”

“What are you guys doing?? He ain’t do nothin’ wrong!!”

“Stoooop! Somebody do something!!”

“Keep him down!! Don’t move!!”

“That cop’s going for his gun!!”

There were so many shouts and orders, cries and calls. It was hard to distinguish who was saying what, but it was easy to get the gist.

Gary screamed as his arms were forced behind his back far rougher than was necessary.

“Fight back now, nigger!!”

“Stop resisting arrest!!”

“I’m not!!” Gary insisted, crying now. He wailed out in agony as the handcuffs were slapped on his wrists, cutting into them. Grunting and glaring, tears rolling down his cheeks, Gary was yanked up to his feet and then forced through the crowd.

One officer slapped away a teen’s phone from his hand, but nearly everyone was recording the incident.

After being shoved into the back of the police car, his wrists begging for relief from the unrelenting pain of the handcuffs, he laid perfectly still as he was driven to the precinct, sniffling and crying all the way. This isn’t right, Gary knew. This isn’t like the last time when I was arrested in Celadon City. These officers; this... town, maybe?

No. Enough denial. This entire town has to be racist!

Then, what does that mean for me, now?

Where will I be taken?

Will I be safe?