Ex Emerald

Z loved Pokemon. He always had a fondness for the franchise and found comfort in it. Despite only being 14, he had a difficult life so it was a nice escape from the real world. The generation 3 games were his favorites in particular. Z loved the vastness and color of the region. It was also his first Pokemon game, so it had a double nostalgic factor. His parents were often out, and even when they were home; typically ignored Z. He was always left to his own devices.

He didn’t have friends, but…who needed them when you had your Gameboy? So it only came naturally that after Z finished a batch of homework and showered, he’d sit down and play his favorite Pokemon game! Pokemon Emerald. He pulled his Gameboy out from under his pillow and booted the Gameboy up. The cartridge was already inserted in.

Z found comfort in professor Birch’s sprite, it was just as Z remembered him. The same jolly man, who kept a small smile on his face. It was comforting. Despite it, Z skipped past most of the opening sequence for Emerald, he was already accustomed to it and just wanted to get into the game. It was when the professor asked for Z’s identity that Z paused.

“Are you a boy? Or are you a girl?”

Z hesitated slightly, hand hovering over his Gameboy. He pressed boy and was met with the naming system. It was nice for once, to be able to name yourself. Z could be the person he desired to be. So he called himself Z, it felt so right. So him. Moments later Z was reunited with the familiar scene of being inside the truck. Z sped through most of the beginning scene. Z made his way over to the neighboring house and sped through the dialogue. Z walked upstairs and approached the Pokeball and that was when the rival first appeared.

The rival quickly ran up to Z, who jumped back in surprise from how quickly and closely the rival got. Z blinked a little confused, he’d never seen the player jump back like that. He’s played this game enough times to recall.

“Who...?...Ah, you.” The sprite seems to do a little dance in place before resuming the normal dialogue.

“Oh, you’re Z. So your move was today. I’m Melody. Glad to meet you!”

Z seemed to stutter at reading the name of his new rival, the game was supposed to autofill it as…May. Why…Why was her name…Melody? He felt a bit of sweat form, as he stared at the screen. He swallowed a gulp down and figured this was some odd type of bug. He was unsure how else to describe this. So he chose to believe that. Z mashed through the rest of the dialogue before Melody eventually walked away to catch up with her father. Z scratched his chin, still puzzled. The rival was supposed to go to the PC…not leave.

Z shrugged it off, just wanting to enjoy his favorite game and forget all of life’s problems. So he walked downstairs and made his way to the tall grass. A cry from the professor rang out and he quickly rushed out to help Birch. Quickly picking Treecko and making quick work of the Zigzagoon. The two are instantly teleported back to the lab.

“Z don’t you think it might be a good idea to go see Melody?”

Yes.

“Great! Melody should be happy, too. Get Melody to teach you what is means to be a trainer.”

And with that Z makes his way out of the lab and onwards to Route 103, where the rival is waiting. Z flees from the wild encounters and approaches Melody.

“Let’s see…how to approach- !”

Melody spins around to face Z’s sprite.

“Oh, hi, Z! Oh, I see, my dad gave you a Pokemon as a gift. That’s cute. So, can you tell me then? How do you win somebody over?”

Z remains still, unresponsive as Melody seemed to await a response.

“Fine. Let’s have a Pokemon battle then!”

When the battle system appeared, the sprite for Melody looked a bit different. She had a small smile instead of her usual peppy grin. One of her hands was also hidden behind her sprite this time. She had a beauty mark under her right eye and was wearing…a necklace? It looked like half a heart as if it was missing the other piece. It…was strangely similar to…Z could feel his breath quicken at this revelation. Melody? Was this some cruel prank? Weren't jokes supposed to be funny? Where is the humor in this?!

Despite it all, Z continued with the Pokemon battle. It was even until his Treecko landed a critical hit against Torchic. Ending the battle abruptly.

“Why do you reject me so? Z? What am I doing wrong? Please.”

Stop, please.

“...Oh well. I suppose I should head back to the lab.” Melody hops over the small ledge and vanishes from the game’s view. Z stays in place, hands trembling and sweat had formed. It trickled down Z’s hands. Why…why did the rival bare such a striking resemblance to…to his ex?!?! It creeped him out beyond belief. Z had to put the Gameboy down and place his head in his hands.

He needed a break. Emerald was meant to be his comfort game, he set the Gameboy aside for the moment. Maybe…it was best for Z to simply rest. It was late anyway. Plus it was Friday, so he would have time tomorrow morning to play Pokemon Emerald again. So Z saved the game and turned it off. He was tired.

…..

Melody was a very sweet girl, she’d always offer Z flowers and would sit with him at lunch. Melody would help Z with homework and would even walk him home. The two were inseparable it seemed. Until, one day. Melody had confessed to Z that she had a crush on him. Z was taken back by this, somebody liked him? To top it off, his best friend liked him? Z wasn’t even sure if he liked her back, but he accepted her feelings nonetheless. He wanted to be polite, and the two began dating afterward.

It only took a few days of Melody being glued to Z’s side for Z to conclude. He didn’t love Melody back. He felt mean for even agreeing to date her, he got her hopes up for nothing essentially. But, in the end. It was probably best, to be honest about his feelings, surely the duo could remain friends still? He didn’t harbor any bad feelings towards the girl after all. The boy had asked Melody to meet him after School behind the building.

Z stood by a tree, tightly and sweatily gripping onto the straps of his backpack as he awaited Melody. Melody came and approached Z with a big and warm smile. That made Z hurt more.

“Hi, cutie!! I couldn’t wait to meet you out here when you passed me that note in class! You wanted to be alone…you’re so sweet. Is this our first kis-”

“Melody! Please…stop. Let me talk for a moment.”

She stared at the boy with a puzzled expression, losing the warmness and glow. Z gulped.

“Listen, Mel..I tried. I really did…b-but…If I’m being honest. I…I don’t love you. I’m sorry. C-can we just stay friends? Please?”

Melody stared ahead at Z blankly, her expression turning dark and vacant. After a couple moments of silence, Z grew antsy. He wiggled in place.

“Mel-”

“Is this how you truly feel?”

A small voice mumbled, taking a slow and shaky step forward. Z flinched, caught off guard. Z quickly jumps back as Melody pulls out a kitchen knife from her bag. She dons a maniacal and crazed grin.

“IS THAT ALL I AM TO YOU?! WHY CAN’T I BE ENOUGH FOR YOU, Z?! I LOVED YOU!”

Melody plunges the knife deep into her stomach, whilst screaming and sobbing. Z takes a step back, horrified at what he was witnessing. He trembled, sweat pouring down his back as his now ex-girlfriend seemed to commit suicide in front of him. Each plunge of the weapon brought a sickening sound that Z wouldn’t be able to will away from his mind for a very long time. Melody kept the knife plunged into her gut, before quickly ripping it out, blood spilling out and organs now visible. Tears ran down Z’s face and he quickly vomited onto the grass next to him.

Melody took a shaky step forward, Z didn’t notice as the girl slowly and shakily got closer to him. Z’s breath hitched as he felt a hand on his shoulder. Z slowly sat up and fearfully eyed Melody.

The girl had a large and insane grin plastered onto her face, her eyes were vacant as she tightly gripped the knife in her free hand. She was caked in blood and tears and was clearly in pain. But despite it, she still stood firmly.

“Oh, Z….My b-belovvvveeed….”

Melody cooed, raising the knife above. Aiming to plunge it down onto her ex-boyfriend. Z stared at the weapon, frozen in place. He could not move, he was scared. He was scared, he was scared, he was scared-

Melody quickly and violently thrust the knife into Z-

“AAAAHHHH!!!” Z hastily sat up, eyes wide and panting slightly from the adrenaline. He wiped his forehead and sighed softly. The boy glimpsed at the Gameboy on the desk next to his bed and picked it up. Staring ahead at the black screen, he recalled the events from last night. It felt like a dream, maybe…it was a dream?

Z wasn’t exactly enthusiastic about playing Pokemon today, but…what else would he do then? There was nothing else to do, his parents were gone as usual and it’s not like they had a lot of money. Z booted the Gameboy up and continued where he left off. Returning to Oldale Town, Melody was nowhere in sight. Okay…, Z strolled to the lab as he was intended to do. Birch greeted Z.

“Ah, Hello, Z! Did you defeat Melody then?”

Normally, the rival would accompany you here and would’ve informed the professor how they lost and you won. But Melody wasn’t here, did she wander off elsewhere? He mashed through the text and the game continued off like it usually did. With the normal wild encounters, and trainer fights.

After a successful gym battle and Treecko evolving,Z made his way onto Route 116. There was an old man outside a cave, begging for his Peeko to return. Making quick work of the Team Aqua grunt who had stolen the old man’s Peeko. The old man retrieved his friend, Peeko and the pair left the cave. Just as Z let out a small sigh, he noticed a figure at the edge of his screen that quickly vanished just as fast as he noticed it. He ran to try and identify it, but there was nothing.

Z returned the Devon Goods to Mr.Stone and exited the building. On the way out, Z bumped into a familiar face.

“Hiiiiii Z! I missed you so dearly! Aww, I see you had a match call feature put on your Pokenav! Let’s register each other so we can contact one another anytime! …..So. Z, can you be honest? Do you love me?”

He blinked, he was given the option to answer Yes or No. Z bit his lip. He felt a knot forming in his gut, he was sure something bad would happen if he answered with no. But Z wasn’t a liar, but at the same time. It was just a game? A game that had a sprite looking and acting a bit too similar to someone he once knew, however. What should he do?

No.

….Silence.

Melody quickly slashed at Z’s stomach, spraying blood all over her. Z recoiled back and fell onto the ground, holding his blood-caked stomach. Z let out a scream, attempting to crawl away from Melody. The entire city turned red, and Melody’s face was enveloped in a dark shadow. Only the eyes were visible and they were locked onto Z.

Melody now held a large kitchen knife in her hand, blood dripping from the tip. She made small menacing steps towards the other.

“No? Nooooo? No? N-No? NO? NONONONONONONO?!?!?! THIS IS HOW YOU TREAT ME?! Z…I LOVED YOU. LOOK, I EVEN GOT THIS FOR YOU.”

Melody’s sprite lifted her shirt just enough to show off an array of bandages covering her stomach. They were muddied with blood, and she quickly lifted the garment down again.

“DON’T YOU REMEMBER? WHEN I KILLED MYSELF, FOR YOU?! AND HERE? I’M STILL NOT GOOD ENOUGH?!”

She roared, standing above Z’s weak and trembling figure. Melody swiftly slashed Z’s arms off. Blood sprayed for only a moment as he almost seemed to scream. The NPCs in the city did nothing either, seeming completely disinterested in the two and going about their usual activity. Z and Melody meant nothing to them.

Melody glanced at the screen, and away from the sprite trembling below her. The real Z winced at that. Was…she gawking at him?!

“Z….I still love you. Why don’t you die, so you can join me? We can be together finally…FOREVER.”

He quickly shut the Gameboy closed and without hesitation ripped the cartridge out of the Gameboy. This fucking thing was cursed, there was NO FUCKING WAY Z was letting that psycho back into his life. She was DEAD, and somehow was inside his Emerald game?! NO. Z ran out and grabbed a hammer from his dad’s garage. Quickly slamming it down onto the cartridge.

Slam. Slam. Slam.

It took a few hits before it was torn into multiple pieces and destroyed. Z scooped the pieces up and tossed them into the trash before quickly wrapping it and taking it outside so the dumpster could handle it. Z felt….relieved in a way. Melody should’ve died with that. Fuck everything, he felt relieved despite having just destroyed his comfort game. Z returned to bed and laid there, finding it hard to go back to sleep. He could swear, he could still hear her. Whispering his name.

“Oh, Z…I love you still.”