Chapter Three: The Source of the Trend...

Hades0918 · October 4

This is getting out of hand. For the past week it's been nothing but "My Friend Malamar" and "Malamar is so amazing" and "Malamar this" and "Malamar that."

I'm done.

I'm walking down the street with Char, moving quick. I have a box of important stuff that I need to organize as soon as possible. While we're walking, me and Char pass two people. We groan loudly. They're doing the "Malamar Dance" (Yes. There's an entire dance trend!), which I have seen enough on Pokégram. We roll our eyes at the sight of a store that's putting up Malamar merchandise in their display window. We take an unnecessary detour to avoid a group of people asking "What do you think of Malamar?"

It is literally everywhere!

I peek out around the corner. Empty. Good. Me and Char walk across the street to an empty warehouse. We stealthily enter, double checking to make sure there truly is nobody around. I quickly shut the door behind us.

I set my box down on the table and rush to the windows, closing all the blinds, peeking out one last time to make sure we're not being followed. Char lights the lamp, illuminating the empty room. Dust floats around as we move around, pulling out a board with a sheet over it. I rip it off, sending more dust everywhere. Me and Char cough uncontrollably, flailing our arms, waving the dust away. Once everything calms down, we turn our attention to the board. It has a map of Lumios City on it, red string connecting different areas, pictures of people pinned onto onto it.

"Alright," I say, clearing my throat. "This is a map of everywhere the Malamar trend has been strongest, along with who's been doing it most."

I pin up a few more pictures of Malamar crazed people at the city they live in. I step back and look at it. "Hmm…" I hum lowly. "I still don't see a connection."

Char makes a sound of question, gesturing to the board. "How could there not be a connection," I ask it. "All these areas have reports of a blinding flash then green and pink lights. That means it is the same thing doing it, right?"

Char growls and nods its head. "Right. So the culprit has an agenda. If they're targeting random people, why would they be doing it in the first place?"

Char tilts its head and makes an "I don't know" sound. "Also, why Malamar," I ask more to me than Char. "Why make people be obsessed with it? If Malamar wants a person, it would get them itself!"

Char gasps and makes a series of noises, forming a sentence of growls and chars. "You think it's a Malamar behind this?" Char nods and growls. "That wouldn't make sense," I state. "Malamar's lights are yellow, not pink and green. Plus the bright flash. Malamar's light isn't that strong."

Char growls softly and looks at the board. "I know this is tough," I sigh, petting Char as I examine the board again. Char howls loudly.

"Sh, sh, sh! Keep it down," I whisper, waving my arms. "You know people get attacked on the daily for trying to question the trend! People go crazy over it."

Char nods quickly lowering its head. I sigh. "Come on, bud. Let's go home."

I put the light out and walk out the door. I again check our surrounding, then I hop on Char's back and we fly home.

30 minute flight

Me and Char walk into the house. I sigh as I toss my keys onto the table and collapse into the recliner. Char curls up next to it and I gently pet its neck.

I grab the remote and turn on the TV on. "And talking to us today is the woman that caused this "My Friend Malamar" trend.

"Char," I exclaim. Char was already sitting up, staring at the screen intently.

"I had to show the world Malamar's wonderful Mega Evolution," the woman on the screen said, seeming half dazed.

"Here that," I mutter to Char. "Malamar can Mega Evolve. I don't know when that became possible, but if it is that explains the flash."

Char growled in agreement. "Mega Evolve," the news woman gasps. "I didn't know Malamar could do that."

"Neither did I," I mumble.

"Oh yes," says the woman. " Let me show you." She pops a Malamar out of a Pokéball. She then pulls a Key Stone out. I shield my eyes as Mega Evolution shines through the screen. When the light clears Mega Malamar is standing there.

It is the weirdest thing I ever saw. It is scrawny and slanky, its head huge and glowing. Its expression is smug as it swirls its long tentacles in circles, creating green and pink swirls. Even through the screen, I begin to fall for the mesmerizing spell.

Then a scream of pure terror broke me out of it. Me and Char scurry over to the window. I peer out the blinds and see Mega Malamars attacking the people on the streets. They are useing their disgusting tentacles and grabbing and hypnotizing the people.

"I knew something sinister was happening," I mutter as I rush to search my house for something. Anything. I smile as I grab a pair of sunglasses