Another chapter is here! But first, I have a message to everyone, even though I requested OC's before the story began, it doesn't mean that I won't accept characters now! If you have any ideas for any new characters you want to include, whether they be random trainers, gym leaders, antagonists, or anything else, send them! The more the merrier! But enough rambling, enjoy the chapter!


The group continued along Route 5, still a little distraught over Alan's actions, they approached the end of the route and saw 2 buildings. The group ran over to the buildings, when they got there they all noticed a sign, it had two arrows on it. One lead to the larger building while the other pointed towards the smaller building. According to the sign, the larger building was the entrance to Saffron City, the smaller building was the entrance to the Underground Path which made traveling to Lavender Town, Vermilion City, or our heroes' destination, Celadon City, much easier! Before the group entered the Underground Passage, an old friend stopped them.

"Hello again young trainers!" The group turned to face The person and seemed relieved and a bit happy to see Meridia!

"Meridia! It's good to see you again!" Renée greeted.

"Likewise!" Meridia answered with her usual sweet smile, her pale hazel eyes seemed to add a distinct mark of innocence. "I assume you're on your way to Celadon City to battle Erika for your second badge?" She asked them

"That's right! How did you know?" Diego asked

"Many trainers have passed through here to get to Celadon City! Ever since the line up of the Gym Leaders was changed 6 years ago, Celadon City has seen more and more new people everyday! It's almost as big as Castelia City in the Unova Region!" Meridia explained "I'm also heading towards Celadon for a very important meeting!"

"Then we should go to Celadon City together!" Julia chimed "It'll be fun!" Meridia smiled at her idea she happily accepted


The Underground Path hasn't changed much, it's still more or less a straight path, however ever since the Kanto Biker Federation vandalized the Path connecting Routes 7 and 8 years ago, the Underground Path has been shut down for about 20 years, it wasn't until funding reopened the Path and expanded it, making it so people from Cerulean City can travel to Celadon City and Lavender Town without having to go through Rock Tunnel. There were also specific paths in the Underground that went directly to those towns!

The group began to walk down the Underground Path that lead to Celadon.

"So Meridia, if you don't mind me asking, what sort of business do you have in Celadon?" Jack asked

"I have a meeting with some of my coworkers and superiors regarding Team Dark Star, I assume you've heard of them?" Meridia replied

"Yeah, we saw them in Mt. Moon, Jack and I battles one of them!" Diego noted

"I recommend you to stay away from Team Dark Star, they are very powerful and extremely dangerous! Please try to avoid them!' Meridia warned them, she sounded ominously serious, the group walked in silence for a few more minutes before Julia started up the conversation again.

"So Meridia, um... If it's ok to ask, what do you do exactly?"

"Oh! Well, I am a high ranking official in an organization dedicated to the scientific study of pokemon! It's similar to Silph Co. and the research my company does is very similar to Prof. Oak ' studies!" She answered, her smile came back, which lightened the mood

"That's incredible!" Renée said

"Hehe, thank you Renée, I appreciate the compliment, my company also tests the battle capabilities of pokemon as well!" Meridia added

"So you're a trainer also?" Jack asked

"That's right! And Jack, I would like to battle you, there is something special about you!" Meridia stated, Jack gave her a confident smile and accepted her challenge. Despite the Underground Path being shut down because of vandalism and pokemon battles, the funding received to reopen the Underground made pokemon battles no longer against the rules, so long as they don't cause any damage or hurt anybody.

"I'm always ready for a battle!" Jack said and the battle had begun "Alright Spearow, come on out!"

"Clefairy, standby!" Meridia sent out her Clefairy, which immediately caught Julia's attention

"IT'S SO CUTE!" She shouted, Renée and Diego chuckled at the statement

"Jack, you may use as any pokemon as you wish, and you have the honor of making the first move!" Meridia announced

"Thank you Meridia! Spearow use Fury Attack!" Jack ordered, Spearow charged for Clefairy, it's talons aimed right at Clefairy.

"Clefairy, use Meteor Mash!" Meridia commanded, Clefairy's arm began to blow with a silver/gold aura and it leaped for Spearow, hitting it squarely in it's face! Spearow was knocked out before it hit the ground!

"How did it do that?!" Diego asked gobsmacked at what happened

"It's strong and cute!" Julia said, still gushing over the Clefairy

"That's amazing! But this battle isn't over! Go, Ralts!" Jack sent out Ralts, who seemed ever to battle "Use Misty Terrain!" Ralts' horn began to glow, it blew out a bright pink mist that seemed to obscure Clefairy's vision!

"Obscuring Clefairy's line of sight to attack from a distance! Very smart, but I'm afraid it's not smart enough! Clefairy, use Moonblast!"Meridia ordered, Clefairy absorbed the mist and turned it into some sort of energy, which it then shot out at Ralts at blinding speed knocking it out! Everyone was stunned at what happened, Jack sent out his Ivysaur next.

"Ivysaur, use Leech Seed!" Jack commanded, he was hoping that the Leech Seed would at least cause SOME damage to the Clefairy

"Clefairy, use Psychic!" Clefairy began to glow with a purple and pink aura, it shot out a wave of energy that had a similar aura that made the air look glossy and warped. This energy destroyed the Leech Seeds and sent Ivysaur back several feet, making it faint!

"That Clefairy... it's incredible!" Julia exclaimed, still excited about the battle, Renée and Diego were stunned at how quickly and easily Clefairy seemed to be dominating Jack's pokemon, it had not even taken a hit yet! Jack sent out his final pokemon, his Poochyena, which had a disadvantage due to its typing.

"Poochyena, use Sand Attack!" Jack called out, he was visibly nervous, Clefairy had countered every single attack Jack had used!

"Clefairy, Moonblast!" Meridia said, Clefairy sent out another Moonblast which hit Poochyena before it could even use its Sand Attack, knocking it out and giving Meridia the win. Jack looked disappointed at his loss, Diego was still speechless at the battle, he couldn't even move!

"Jack." Meridia said "You losing the battle doesn't mean you are a bad trainer! You are still learning, the road to success is long and difficult, but you mustn't give up because of one defeat! There is a power within you... within all four of you! And if you want to unleash it you must never give up! Here Jack, let me heal your pokemon!" Meridia exclaimed, she healed Jack's pokemon as they all continued walking towards Celadon City.

"Meridia, h - how is your Clefairy that strong!?" Diego asked

"Clefairy is strong because of the strong bond she and I share! We've trained together for years! I also mentioned I work for a group that studies a pokemon's battling capabilities, this research has also helped it become stronger as well!" She explained

"Is there a way that my pokemon can go through this training?" Jack asked

"Perhaps, my company will contact you if they believe you are ready for studying!" Meridia answered


The group exited the Underground Path and were now on Route 7, it was a short Route that went right into Celadon City! Before they continued, Meridia stopped the group...

"I must take my leave now, it was a pleasure seeing you again, but before I leave I want you all to have this!" She said, giving Renée a wrapped box, Meridia left the group and continued used towards Celadon City alone.

"Well, what is it?" Julia asked, Renée opened the box, inside of it was four objects that looked like bracelets, they had some type of symbol on it that looked like the inside of a marble, it had a rainbow coloring inside. There was also a note on the inside. It read,

'Power does not only depend on the physical or mental strengths of a pokemon, it also relies on the strong bonds between the trainers and their pokemon. Take these Mega Rings and uncover the true strengths between you and your pokemon!'

The group looked at the Mega Rings, they were confused about how they work and what it took to uncover their power.


Meanwhile, Meridia was already in Celadon City, she entered a large building with a Cresent Moon and Star shape sign on it. The building was incredibly darkened by shadows.

"Have the other trainers accepted our offer?" Meridia asked

"Yes, they have, all except for one, the one you have been interacting with!" A voice answered

"I assure you Singularity, sir. That he will soon join us without any issues!" Meridia responded, she seemed a bit nervous towards the person she was talking to.

"Excellent! I've sent the new recruits on their first assignment, proceed with the testing as planned!" The shadow responded

"Yes sir!" Meridia answered, entering one of the rooms labeled 'E Class personnel only!' From inside the room, Simon appeared to be working on something...


And that ends the chapter! What does Meridia mean by unlocking the group's 'potential' and who are the people she is involved with? Why did she give them Mega Rings? Who was the person she was talking to? How is she so strong? And what is Simon doing? You'll have to keep reading to find out!