The next morning

"BZZT. Message from the H.Q. BZZT!"

Lillie being the first to read it pressed the Rotom Dex's button.

"Elio, Lillie this is Krane; I sent a message to the elder over at Agate Village, explaining what is happening, he goes by the name of Eagun. They have organized something to help you with the first few shadow pokemon and once you gather more pokemon. Purified or regular, meet me back in the HQ, we might have an old machine ready to make managing the shadow pokemon easier."

The floating screen pointed the map coordinates between Gateon port and Agate Village. "BZZT! We might want to get there as soon as possible. BZZT!"

Lillie was about to go wake Elio up when the Dex floated towards where he was sleeping and turned on the sound of trumpets.

It was more than enough noise to wake the sleepy head out of bed and ready to give orders to the Torracat that was sleeping right next to him. The Torracat leaped at Elio in shock of both trumpets and Elio shouting orders for no logical reason.

Plop!

The two were suddenly laying on the ground rather embarrassed. Lillie giggled as the two realized they were suppose to wake up.

Elio and his Torracat stretched themselves. "So what is going to be our schedule today?"

Lillie explained the email she got that said they were to go to Agate Village to get some of their shadow pokemon to finally open their hearts. She shouted as she smiled. "Alright, lets get everyone breakfast then head out. I'm driving."

It went as Elio expected, Lillie was intimidated initially from the roar, but once she got use to it, the ride became like riding a bike or a Tauros.

"BZZT! Agate Village, a place elderly people go to spend there last couple decades. There is a relic that honors Celebi here. BZZT!"

Elio glared at the Rotom Dex. Upon entering the lush green town, they realize that this place really was one with nature. Most of the houses were either made of stone or apart of a tree.

The first two people they met were a rather young trainer talking with his grandpa. When he realize who was coming the two got ready to greet each other. "So you are the two trainers to seek the shrine?"

The younger one said. Elio and Lillie nodded yes. The elderly man whispered something to his grandson.

"Okay here is how this trial is going to work, you are both restricted to just these shadow pokemon as you go around fighting everyone in this village. Once both of you have a shadow pokemon ready to be opened, you are then permitted to visit the relic down past the cave. For the most part you both are doing this alone. If you two have a strategy involving working together, save it for when it is called for."

Elio looked at the elderly man whispering to his grandson. "So we are spending most of the day battling old people in order to form enough of a bond?"

The younger man answered back. "Yes you are, if you are so determined to get started than my grandfather Mato would like to challenge you; from there you are permitted to challenge everyone on the eastern side of town."

The young man turned towards Lillie. "As for you I will be your opponent."

Elio nodded towards Lillie. "I will be over that hill there. Wish you luck."

Vs Koto.

Koto sent out a small mole with a blue stripe as well as a flying purple scorpion.

Lillie took the pokeball and net ball before shouting. "Go Eevee, Go Venonat. Eevee use shadow bite!"

The Eevee lunged at the Drillbur with a dark bite, which caused it to flinch.

"Venonat use shadow wave!" The Venonat sent a dark wave on both opponents, knocking the Drillbur out. Lillie saw the Venonat shake violently as it entered Hyper Mode.

"Venonat please calm down."

The shaking stopped as the Venonat slumped down.

Koto was frustrated that his Drilbur was taken out. "Gligar use aerial ace on that Venonat!"

The Gligar zoomed towards the Venonat with blinding speed, dealing a fair amount of damage to it.

"Eevee use Shadow bite on the Gligar, end this fight."

The Eevee's fangs glowed once more as it lunged. Both Gligar and Drilbur had been KO'D. Koto looked at both Lillie and the Venonat, then nodded.

"Good, the rest of your opponents will be on the west side of this village, there should be enough opponents to get all three of those pokemon close to ready. By the way."

As he hand a cologne case to Lillie. "You are going to need that for when you have free time."

Vs Mato

Mato sent out a statue like creature with a large red nose and a orange insect like creature with a large mouth.

Elio looks curiously at the options. "Huh? Nosepass and Trapinch, GO TYROUGE, GO ESPURR!"

Elio looked at the Trapinch, a pokemon who was infamous for having ridiculous physical offense for a first stage pokemon. "TYROUGE SHADOW RUSH ON THE TRAPINCH! ESPURR HELP IT OUT WITH SHADOWFUSION!"

The Tyrouge and Espurr made quick work of the Trapinch as it was knocked off its feet and then slammed to the ground. The Tyrouge grunted in pure fury as it entered Hyper Mode. Elio looking at what is about to happen. "Oh we are not having this again. TYROUGE STAY STABLE!"

Tyrouge snapped back to its sense and grunted. Nosepass use rock slide to damage both.

"ESPURR USE SHADOW FUSION! KEEP THE ASSAULT!"

The Nosepass was flung to a wall, dazed and confused. It fell over trying to set up more rocks.

"TYROUGE SHADOW RUSH FINISH THIS FIGHT!"

The Nosepass was tackled back towards the old man for a knockout. The old man looked downward. The Tyrouge looked towards its partner, then towards its trainer.

Elio looked back at him with determination. "Don't worry soon enough you will have that fighting spirit back. Thank you for helping with this."

The old man had already walked away, leaving behind a cologne case. Elio found a joyous scent in case, as he sent the Tyrouge back in the ball, he rubbed the Espurrs head with the scent applied. The Espurr, made a small gasp of relief.

The rest of the day was Elio and Lillie fighting mostly elderly people. Some told them that this whole thing was both a way to open up some of the shadow pokemon as well as a test to see how far they would go to handle these shadow pokemon. Lillie normally cringed whenever she saw hyper mode happen. Unlike the first time however she was mentally prepared to make sure that phase never lasted as long as it did. Elio on the other hand was more aggressive in handling hyper mode as he demanded to the Tyrouge specifically that it was NOT what the fighting spirit was. Eevee had gained an adamant nature, the Tyrouge had regained a naughty nature and the Espurr regained a calm nature. Both the Eevee and Tyrouge were about ready within the next few hours, all that was left was to undo the final lock.

The duo converged on the cave after clearing most of the trial. Elio noticed Lillie was rubbing the Venonat on the cheek before leaping startled at an approaching trainer.

"So Lillie, how well are you handling these things?"

He ask with concern over the previous night.

Lillie sighed. "I feel better, it still hurts to watch."

Lillie started to form tears, but Elio comforted her."It really is. The first of these guys should be back to their old happy selves by the end of this day."

The two approached the cave to await the next batch of elderly people to defeat. They found a bunch of elderly people laying around injured. Both shocked, Elio ran to one who was still moving. "Who did this to you?"

The old man coughed. "They are after the relic."

Elio and Lillie found it vague BUT they knew enough that now was not the time to think as they bolt towards the shrine.

They rushed toward the end of the tunnel to find an elderly man with a Pikachu being harassed by what looks like two Cipher peons in a red and blue color scheme.

"Don't resist old man, we are here for the relic. Without its power the shadow pokemon project will no longer have anymore complications."

"I won't budge." said the old man

"pika." As the Pikachu held its ground.

Elio was the first to shout. "OH NO WE HAVE NOT SPENT THE DAY BEATING UP OLD PEOPLE TO HAVE THAT GO DOWN THE DRAIN!"

The peons turned in astonishment. "What? Why did anyone bother to come down here? We thought this place was off limits towards visitors."

Lillie glared at the two. "We have been invited, you two certainly have not!"

The red and blue duo looked at each other, then towards the duo. "Hey Possy, you know that combo we had going for?"

The red peon suggested. "Yeah Neg."

The blue one agreed. The two peons made a dramatic pose as they got ready for battle. Elio and Lillie looked at each other in determination as they faced these two.

Vs Cipher peon's Possy and Neg

Possy sent out a small red cheeked mouse with a plus sign for a tail, Neg sent out a small blue cheeked mouse with a negative sign for a tail. Elio and Lillies Aura Readers activated.

Plusle and Minum are shadow pokemon.

Elio tossed the dusk ball barking, "GO TYROUGE WE ARE ALMOST THERE!"

Lillie shouted. "Come on Eevee!"

Out came Tyrouge and Eevee. Eevee used helping hand to boost Tyrouges next attack as Elio shouted. "Tyrouge used fake out on the Plusle!"

The Tyrouge lunged towards the Plusle to clap in front of it. Already it is down to half health. The Minum responded by spreading a dark mist, making both of the opposing pokekmon less likely to avoid attacks.

"Tyrouge return. GO ESPURR!"

Lillie charged up the next pokeball for the Plusle, "GO SNAG BALL!"

Shake, shake, shake... click!

Neg shouted. "Minum use shadow wave." Minimum damage was done to both pokemon. Possy sent out a yellow butterfly.

Elio shouted out. "ESPURR USE LIGHT SCREEN!"

The Espurr sent out a golden force field. Neg shouted. "Minum, shadow shock that girly brat!"

The Eevee moved itself between Lillie and the Minum as it sent out shadow lightning.

"Eevee, swift!" Yellow stars pelted both the Beautifly and the Minium.

Elio charged up a great ball to use on the Minum. "GO SNAG BALL!"

Shake, shake, shake click!

Neggy sent out a purple moth with green wings, Beautifly blew a strong gust at Espurr, but minimum damage was dealt.

"ESPURR SHADOW FUSION ON THAT BEAUTIFLY!"

The Beautifly barely had time to react as it was slammed to the ground, Koing it. The Espurr shrieked as it enters hyper mode.

"EEVEE SAND ATTACK THE DUSTOX!" Lillie shouted as the Eevee threw sand in the Dustox's eyes. It was not able to hit its target with poison sting. Pos sent out a purple reptile with rabbit ears.

"Go Nidorino!"

Elio shouted out. "ESPURR SHADOW FUSION THAT DUSTOX!"

The Dustox had even less luck as it was slammed to the ground more times, then tossed to a tree, making that a definitive critical hit knocking the Dustox out. Lillie had experience with Nidorino's at this level and swapped Eevee out for Venonat; as expected it double kicked the Venonat, doing minimal damage.

The Espurr was looking at the Nidorino with murderous intent, Elio shouted firmly, "ESPURR THAT IS ENOUGH CALM DOWN!"

The Espurr regained enough of its senses to relearn a new move. Neggy sent out a blue reptile with large ears.

"Go Nidorina."

Elio looked at Lillie. "Hey you want to help Espurr try a new move out?"

Lillie looked at Elio with a smile of determination, "Yes lets finish this! Eevee, use helping hand!"

As the Eevee got ready to support Espurr, Elio shouted. "ESPURR TAKE OUT THAT NIDORINO WITH PSYBEAM!"

The Espurr shot out a strong psychic beam, it knocked the Nidorino out of the base and into the grass. Neg looked at the two pokemon, "Crap I am out numbered!"

Elio smiled in satisfaction as he swapped the Espurr, he whispered to the ball that it had done well.

"GO TYROUGE YOUR SUFFERING IS SOON AT AN END!"

Lillie grinned at the words. "Eevee, use sand attack on that Nidorina!"

Sand pelted the Nidorina's eyes before she tried to kick the Eevee in retaliation, but she missed. Lillie shouted. "Eevee, use helping hand to empower that fake out!"

Elio grinned at the correct guess. "YOU HEARD HER USE FAKE OUT!"

The Nidorina took more damage than it expected, it is about to fall over. "Alright Eevee, finish it off with swift!"

The last of the yellow stars pelt the Nidorina, she fell over, signaling the end of the battle.

The Cipher duo look in anger. "I knew we should have planned more for this battle!"

They used a smokescreen to get away.

The elderly man approached the duo. "Thank you. I had no idea how fast they got here."

Elio grinned as he checked him out. "Don't think about it too much. I take it you are the elder of this village, Eugan?"

The duo greeted themselves. Lillie looked at the relic. "So this is the stone that can save these pokemon?"

The elderly man nodded. "You two still have a long way to go, but this is a first step. I will be back at my house if you need me. Let me know how the Tyrouge and Eevee grow afterwards."

Elio was the first to approach the stone with Tyrouge.

A pokemon is ready to open the door to its heart. The green light envelopes the Tyrouge, the dark expelled out of it, green light passed through.

"BZZT! Tyrouge opened the door to its heart. It regained the move mach punch and refresh. BZZT!"

Tyrouge eyes flare up, it glowed.

Elio delighted in seeing it. "Do it!"

Its legs stretched, its fists changed into red boxing gloves, its shoulders grew. Tyrouge has evolved into Hitmonchan. The Hitmonchan looked at himself in astonishment, as Elio patted him on his shoulder.

"Welcome to the team Mac. Alright Lillie its your tur..."

Elio realized Lillie was already approaching the stone. Much like the former Tyrouge, the Eevee's eyes flared up with life. Opening the door to its heart.

"BZZT! The Eevee regained the move heal bell, it also regained the move quick attack. BZZT!"

Lillie shed tears of relief that the Eevee was no longer hurting. Elio was about ask Lillie if she also had plans for nicknames because he thought the one she raised in Kanto had a rather pretty name. Eevee's eyes changed from life to desperation as it bolted towards the forest. The duo acted in shock for a moment before chasing it in pursuit.

Elio was calling the Eevee. Lillie was having Rotom Dex scan for tracks. They followed toward the deeper section of the forest until they found a grove.

"BZZT, the Eevee is not too far from here, this leads towards a dead end. BZZT!"

The machine finished scanning the place. Lillie took a deep breath in relief. "It should not have been acting out like this. Elio, I am worried that the Eevee may have reacted to something."

Elio nodded back. "If it is something it remembered... I don't want to think about it."

They found the Eevee in the center of the grove, in front of it is a large mossy rock.

Lillie called out. "Eevee, what are you doing? We were worried sick!"

The Eevee tried to approach the stone in a crazed, desperate look.

"Vee!"

The Dex responded. "BZZT, It is saying something. BZZT!"

Elio directed orders. "Okay then, please translate."

The Dex responded. "BZZT! Yes boss! This is what you want right? You want me to evolve? BZZT!"

Elio and Lillie acted confused by this. Elio in a dumbfound asked. "Um what?"

The Eevee responded. "Vee!" Dex translated. "BZZT! I have to evolve right?"

Lillie acted about as confused. "No Eevee you don't have to evolve right now."

Eevee responded back. "Vee!"

Dex translated, about as puzzled. "BZZT! I have to evolve! BZZT!"

Lillie did not know what to say and shook her head in desperation to find a word to say.

Elio comprehended something as he put on a wide smile. "Not exactly true!"

Lillie looked at the dark haired champ as his tone changed.

"Technically you do not have to evolve to play a key role in a team, there is a benefit to having you stay the way you are."

Eevee responded stubbornly. "Vee."

Dex translated. "BZZT! but I have to evolve! BZZT!"

Elio placed his hand over his face as he took a Z crystal from his bag. "No you do not, with some leveling and this crystal, you can do things none of the evolved forms can do, gain incredible power and pass it around to the team."

Elio placed the Eevium Z at its feet he spoke in a firm tone. "You don't have to evolve if you don't want to."

The Eevee sniffed at it, realized what Elio was saying and slumped from a desperate look to a sad and confused look.

Lillie scooped up the Eevee and hugged it for a bit. "It's okay... we will talk about this later. Do you like the name Cain?"

The Eevee nodded and licked Lillies cheek in response before he went back into the ball. Elio picked the crystal back up and changed his smile to dread.

Lillie looked at him confused. "What was that all about?"

Elio looked back. "I will explain later. That Eevee having the mind set of "it has to evolve" does not make a whole lot of sense. Soon as he calms down a little we will talk about it. Speaking of which so this does not happen. MAC MACH PUNCH THAT ROCK!"

The Hitmonchan punched a chip off the rock.

"Here you go Lillie, if the Eevee decided to become Leafeon, this should work so we don't have to come back here."

Lillie obtained the moss stone as Elio continued.

"Again I will explain later, what he wants to become is ultimately up to you to decide."

Elio shook his head trying to change the subject. "So now that this has been done, how about we go to one of the places we came here for. If they allow Espurr and the others in, we will be able to open their hearts within the next day, plus I want to try out Mac, he finally has that fighting spirit freed. Hey Rotom, what are our options in this region?"