Swanna Song, Sung Throughout Sinnoh

The Z Factor

June was in a comatose state. Her body was mostly wrapped in white gauze and bandages, one leg and one arm in a cast, her face holding several stitches, bruises, and more bandages. Down her throat was an endotracheal tube to provide extra oxygen. She was also hooked up to vital signs monitors tracking her wellbeing. She would have been unrecognizable to even those who knew her.

Gary was in tears sitting at the right of her hospital bed, his eyes closed and head fallen.

Magneton, Galvantula, Rotom, Raichu, Pikachu, Manectric, Eevee, Blitzle, Ampharos, and Lanturn were all around June, but giving her space.

Sniffling, Gary looked over to the room door.

Looking in through the window of the door was Electivire. He was frowning, and after Gary saw him, he lowered his head, getting out of view.

Gary was now frowning and sucked his teeth. I can't believe that guy, he kept to himself, shaking his head. This isn't the time for this shit, Electivire! We found her! She's alive! She's in bad shape, and damn it, she- He stood up and left the other Pokemon behind as a few of them let out nervous, light cries. This isn't okay, he thought.

Clearing his throat, he left the room and saw two police officers standing outside of it. At the other side of the door, Electivire was sitting in a chair, his arms crossed and looking at the floor. "Electivire. This isn't okay. You can't do this right now. Not with her in this condition. It isn't fair."

"Electiv," Electivire responded, turning his head to Gary but keeping his vision down.

"We found her alive! But-" Gary paused. He fought with himself on his next words, and finally let them out. "She might not survive, Electivire! Is this really the way you want to end things?! She's dying there!"

Keeping his arms crossed, Electivire now made fists, and sparks bounced around the outside of his body.

"JUST CUT IT OUT ALREADY!!"

Electivire tilted his head and lifted his gaze just slightly.

Tears were held in Gary's eyes on his furious face. He swallowed before yelling, "This isn't okay, Electivire!! I-!" Gary took a second to lower his voice. "I know what she did was bad, but it's not worth this. She's dying." He inhaled big. "Don't you care, Electivire? How can you not care? This grudge can't be worth not making amends."

Electivire looked down again, his face still stern but somehow softened, if only a tiny bit. "Vire?" He looked beyond Gary, making Gary also look behind him.

With a collective cry, June's ten Pokemon all pulled their heads back into the room, the door slamming shut afterwards.

Only the cops were left staring at them, shuffling their feet and shifting in place.

Gary shook his head and looked back to Electivire.

The Pokemon was already on his feet and walking away.

"Electivire!" Gary glared. Don't shout, he told himself, breathing out. He then walked back to the door, nodded to the cops without making eye contact, and returned to June's room.

*

OrangeIChamp: thats super wild stuff, man. Wha do you thin it mean?

Having told his online friend about his most recent encounter with the monster, Gary also let out that he had been having weird dreams and experiencing bizarre sensations. He stared at the response from his friend, but he didn't know what to say back. And even worse, he didn't like that he didn't know how to respond.

GaryReppinKanto: I ont think it mean anything

Gary left their chat and went to the Forum page. One tab was labeled LF Garchompite!! PLEASE READ!!!!!!! Those Mega Stones, Gary thought. I oughta look into that shit. I could use that extra power. And that crystal thing, too. Z things. There's a lot of shit going on out there that I don't know about.