The convoy of trucks came to an abrupt halt in front of Hammerlocke Castle, causing a dust cloud to rise from the ground. Raihan, accompanied by the rest of the gym leaders, immediately stepped out of his truck and strode purposefully towards the castle entrance. As he went inside, he couldn't resist looking back at the Pokemon being transported in the back of the truck. They were visibly agitated, throwing themselves around in the cramped space of the cage and making loud noises that reverberated through the area. Raihan couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as he watched the people gathered around the truck, pointing and staring at the Pokemon, who were clearly uncomfortable in their new environment. Despite the commotion, Raihan remained focused on the task and continued towards the castle, with the other gym leaders following closely behind him.

The Rangers showed a reckless disregard for the safety of the people and the Pokemon in their care. They flaunted the creatures throughout the city, parading them until they reached the back entrance of Hammerlocke Castle. Raihan, who was at the scene, was horrified to see the Pokemon visibly agitated, posing a clear danger to themselves and those around them. Despite this, the Rangers made no significant effort to ensure the Pokemon's or people's safety. They did not even bother to sedate the creatures to keep them calm. This negligence on the part of the Rangers was both alarming and unacceptable.

Raihan walked down the street with a sense of urgency. As he passed a group of people, he couldn't help but notice that one of the Pokemon was more agitated than the others. It was a giant dog Pokemon with a fiery rock type, and it glared and roared at the people they passed. The onlookers were intimidated by its presence but couldn't help but be drawn to the new Pokemon, creating a chaotic scene.

Raihan realized he needed to act fast and returned to the gym. He rushed upstairs to the final floor, where he knew Rose had a private room.

As Raihan led the way, the gym leaders behind him were left in the dark about what was going on and who was in the car; he was completely unaware of what was happening and was fuming with anger, causing him to have a seizure. The tension was palpable as they went upstairs to confront whoever was behind the disturbance. Finally, they arrived in front of the door, and Raihan, consumed by his emotions, flung it open with such force that it slammed against the wall on the other side. The loud noise shocked Rose and his assistant, unaware of the outside commotion.

Rose, beamed as Raihan, the Dragon-type Gym Leader of Hammerlocke City, walked into his office. "Ah, Raihan, you're back," he said warmly. "I've already heard from the ranger that everything went well, but it seems there's been a bit of a disagreement about what happened."

Raihan's expression darkened, and he strode towards Rose's desk. "Hell yeah, there's a disagreement! How dare your men disrespect me and my word? They tried to capture the Pokemon and bring them here, endangering not only themselves but also innocent residents of Hammerlocke. And not only that, they explicitly suggested abandoning Leon in that cave alone. If we had all worked together, we could have-" He slammed his hands on the desk, his voice rising angrily.

Rose addressed his assistant with a hint of disapproval. "Hold down now. That wasn't what I was told," he said, glancing at her. He then suggested, "Why don't you take a small break? I'm sure you're tired after this long and strenuous expedition, and we can start afresh tomorrow morning."

Raihan, who seemed agitated, promptly interrupted. "There's no time for that. Leon needs help," he snarled. "You're damn Rangers-"

The assistant, standing nearby, intervened to defuse the situation. "I believe that's enough," she said, making everyone look at her, including the gym leaders behind Raihan, but staying silent. "I understand that a situation happened, and we were given false information. We apologize for that, and we will take steps to rectify it. If it's really that urgent, we can hold a meeting immediately and call all the Rangers here as soon as the Pokemon they told us they brought in are secured."

Rose, taking his assistant's suggestion, added, "That's a brilliant idea. Why don't you head to the meeting room while we take care of the Rangers? Abbot will be there shortly," he said, pointing to the door next to the exit, indicating the meeting room. Raihan, though grumbling, complied and walked to the meeting room, taking his usual spot. The rest of the gym leaders quickly followed him and began to ask him questions.

Nessa sat down with everyone else and asked, "What happened out there?" concerned about the events that had taken place.

Milo answered, sitting beside Gordie, "We thought everything was going according to plan. We didn't even know about that," referring to the unexpected turn of events with them returning the Pokemon to Hammerlocke.

Raihan expressed his frustration, "Those damn bastards wouldn't listen to a word I said. This caused more people to get hurt, and now Leon has been left behind because they didn't want to sacrifice the opportunity of taking the Pokemon back with us," his face filled with anger.

Piers, quiet until now, sat beside Raihan, wearing his usual frown. They all knew he was most likely worried, but hearing Raihan's words made them turn to him, expecting some emotion. However, he didn't look any different than usual.

The gym leaders had known Piers for many years, and they knew that he was beyond worried and was on the verge of tears. They could see that Leon going missing had affected him way more than he let on.

As they waited, minutes ticked by and turned into an hour until Rose finally appeared in the doorway. He was accompanied by the rest of the lead Rangers and his assistant. The group took their designated seats or stood by the wall, and the meeting began.

Rose's voice was stern as he spoke up, "Alright, I've heard the beginnings of both sides of this Mission. I would like to get a clear picture of what happened, so please begin this meeting by explaining how this all started."

The gym leaders were gathered together, their faces tense with unspoken words. Before they could speak, the lead Ranger, his gaze fixed on Raihan, stepped forward and cleared his throat.

His voice trembled with suppressed anger as he began to recount the events of the Mission. "Everything was going according to plan, and we were making good progress. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a swarm of wild Pokemon appeared, and chaos ensued. The gym leaders, instead of following orders, began to scatter in different directions, ignoring our pleas for them to regroup."

He paused for a moment, his eyes flashing with indignation. "The champion was doing his best to control the beastly creature that had attacked us, but he was struggling to keep it under control. Meanwhile, the gym leaders Raihan and Milo disappeared into the cave and emerged with more Pokemon, adding to the chaos as the Champian entered the cave after them."

He took a deep breath, his voice rising with each word. "The gym leader Raihan then demanded that we go into the cave to save him, even though he was perfectly capable of handling himself. He ignored the safety of the Rangers injured during the attack and threw a tantrum when we tried to explain that we had to take the Pokemon in by his request."

The Ranger's voice trailed off, and he glared at the gym leaders before him, waiting for their response.

As the lead Ranger for Squadron 5 voiced his accusations, the rest of the Rangers fell into a hush, their eyes fixated on the gym leaders. The gym leaders, in turn, stared back at the man, baffled and stunned by his audacious claims. They neither confirmed nor denied his allegations, choosing instead to remain silent.

Rose, the voice of reason, spoke up, breaking the tense silence. "That is quite an interesting revelation. Thank you for bringing it to our attention. However, before we make any judgments, we would appreciate hearing your side of the story, Gym Leaders." He cut the man off before he could speak again, determined to maintain order and fairness in the proceedings.

Kabu was incensed, and his eyes blazed with anger as he spoke, "I can confirm that all of that is a lie." He glared at the lead Ranger, who had accused them of wrongdoing. Though the other gym leaders were also outraged, they managed to contain themselves. Rihan, however, was about to speak up, but Kabu beat him to it.

Rose sat up in his chair and asked Kabu to continue speaking. "Of course, sir," said Kabu. "First off, we got out of the truck and went to our designated areas where we were meant to deal with the Pokemon we had to. I stayed by the Lake and ensured that all Gym Leaders followed the plan accordingly. Despite the fact that the ginormous Pokemon attacked everyone simultaneously, we ensured the Ranger's safety 100% of the time. This should be confirmed through the camera footage that was on the vest of the lead Rangers in the area."

Kabu continued, "Not only that, but we weren't told we were meant to bring back any Pokemon with us under your orders, apparently."

"I actually don't remember giving that order, but please continue," he said, throwing the Ranger off guard. He had been about to speak up and accuse the Chairman of lying but thought better of it, knowing the possible repercussions.

Kabu, who had been listening attentively, decided to change the topic. "Anyway," he said, "I believe it would be best for Raihan to speak up as he has more information about what happened beyond what we know about the events on the Lake. I apologize for not bringing him into the conversation earlier," he added as he sat back down.

Rose sat at the head of the conference table, his hands folded in front of him, his eyes fixed on Raihan. "Very well, Raihan. If you would, please explain what happened?" he asked.

Raihan rose from his chair and stood tall, his expression stern. "Certainly," he replied. "As soon as we got out of the trucks, we followed the plan to the letter. We were heading straight for the cave to try and corner the Pokemon the best we could. It was a delicate operation, and we couldn't afford any mistakes."

Raihan's face darkened as he continued. "But then, one of the Pokemon caught us by surprise with its illusion ability. It disguised itself as a person and threw us all off. We thought someone had snuck into the Wild Area. Leon and I were the only ones who remained calm and tried to handle the situation. But the Rangers were useless. They cowered back in fear, not even bothering to join in on the battle. They refused to head to the cave unless one of us Gym Leaders was with them."

The Ranger, who had spoken up earlier, tried to object, but Rose silenced him with a sharp look. It was clear that Raihan was telling the truth, and Rose knew he had some difficult decisions.

Raihan's voice dripped with frustration as he continued his story. He sharply glared at the Ranger, who returned the same expression. Raihan took a deep breath and continued. "While Leon was busy with the Pokémon, as it seemed to be only interested in him, he allowed us to enter the cave. Following his instructions, I was the only one who ran towards the cave. The entrance was obscured by a thick layer of vines, but I pushed them aside and stepped inside. "

Raihan can remember how the air inside the cave was damp and musty, with a faint whiff of something rotten. Raihan's eyes adjusted to the dim light, and he could see that the walls were slick with moisture. He could hear the sound of dripping water echoing through the cave.

"There, we encountered another Pokémon. It was a fierce creature, with sharp claws and a snarling mouth. It lunged at us, but Milo stepped forward and met the attack head on. The two of us fought together, and the creature eventually retreated."

Everyone turned to look at Milo, who nodded in agreement.

"After that, we went deeper into the cave. The air grew colder and the sound of water grew louder. Suddenly, we were ambushed by a couple of Pokémon. They came at us from all sides, snarling and snapping. We were outnumbered, but then Leon appeared. He moved with lightning speed, handling the situation and getting the Pokémon under control."

Raihan paused to catch his breath before continuing. "The Rangers then restrained them to the best of their abilities and took them outside the cave. After that, Leon, Milo and I walked deeper into the cave to investigate. The light grew dimmer and I felt a chill run down my spine. Suddenly, we emerged into a forested area, thanks to a sunny day that covered most of the back. The trees were thick and tangled, and the air was filled with the sound of rustling leaves."

"We continued our investigation and found many other Pokémon around. We tried to maneuver ourselves so they couldn't detect us, allowing us to investigate further and see if there were any other threats in the back of the cave. That was where we found a hut with an injured and sickly woman inside." Raihan's voice softened as he spoke, and he looked around at his listeners, hoping they would understand the gravity of the situation.

"Please continue and explain what else you found," Rose said, sitting up in his chair with interest.

"When the girl was found, I stayed behind slightly to ensure everyone's safety. I noticed a Pokémon sneaking up on Leon and Milo, ready to attack them. But I managed to protect them while they were inspecting the girl's body. We were outnumbered and outmatched by the Pokémon, but they refused to attack us as long as the girl was in our possession. They only attacked us when one Pokémon stepped forward, took the girl, and disappeared into the forested brush. That was when the Pokémon started to attack us violently and angrily. For some reason, two of the Pokémon began to glow and become even stronger. Leon gave us a chance to escape by using our flying type Pokémon. He stayed behind to deal with the rest of them, but his entire team was removed. "

Raihan explained as he looked down, his hands in fists as he remembered, "One of the glowing Pokémon chased after us outside, which looked like an Electrod. That's when we met up with everyone outside of the cave, and that's when I saw the Rangers were outside of the cave holding back Pokémon that Leon had helped them capture before and started putting them in cages. We didn't even know that you ordered them to be captured. I tried to get something out of the Rangers to at least go and help Leon, but the lead Ranger over there refused to do so. He even told me that he outranks me in command and that I have to follow his orders. This is untrue. As you know, whenever Leon is not in charge, it is always the gym leader with the highest position in charge next." Raihan glared and pointed at the Ranger.

His disdain for the gym leader was palpable as the Ranger opened his mouth to speak. "Chairman Rose is a complete and utter liar," he declared, his voice laced with anger. However, his words were quickly drowned out by the intimidating glare of Rose's assistant. "That is enough out of you," she spoke firmly, her eyes piercing through the Ranger's defiance.

Rose's voice was stern as he spoke to the Ranger before him. "I have reviewed the camera footage that the gym leaders and Rangers provided me and can confirm that what they say is true. However, I find it concerning that your camera was turned off during the entire experience. Given the gravity of the situation, all Rangers must follow protocols and have their cameras on at all times."

Rose's eyes narrowed as he continued, "We must discuss your future with the Rangers and your role here in Galer. Your failure to follow orders and turn off your camera during an important mission has put the safety of others at risk."

He took a deep breath before continuing, "Later on, we will convene with the other Rangers to discuss the consequences of not following the orders of the gym leaders and the champion. For now, I need you to exit my office while I speak with the gym leaders about the situation and how we will handle it." Rose dismissed all the Rangers, even ordering some to take the lead Ranger, who was in Squadron 5, to the detainment center for further action. Once the room was empty, Rose turned to the gym leaders to discuss the situation further.

The room was tense, and the air was filled with an aura of disappointment and frustration as everyone gathered there was still reeling from the day's events. In the center of the room stood Chairman Rose, flanked by his assistant. The assistant took it upon herself to address the gym leaders on behalf of the Chairman.

"Please accept our sincerest apologies for what happened today. We understand that you all must be feeling exhausted and upset. We want to assure you that we will take appropriate action as per Chairman Rose's decision." The assistant spoke with a calm and reassuring voice, trying to ease the tension in the room.

She continued, "We request you to remain calm and composed. We understand your frustration and anger, and if you need anything, please don't hesitate to let us know. We can arrange for food and water for all of you."

Rose nodded in agreement and added, "Thank you for your understanding. Please go ahead and arrange for the food and water. I will speak to the gym leaders."

The assistant promptly left the room, determined to provide the gym leaders with all the necessary supplies and comfort, given that they had rushed there straight after the raid.

Rose turned to face the group and cleared his throat before speaking up. He seemed to be a man of immense authority, and his words carried weight. "I would like to take a moment to address the group," he said commandingly. "As my assistant mentioned earlier, I must apologize for the unprofessional actions of the Ranger. Maintaining a hierarchy in the world is vital, with gym leaders being placed just below the Elite Four and Champions in the chain of command. Regardless of one's authority, rank must be respected. I apologize for the Ranger's foolishness." Rose's eyes scanned the room, and he could see the 9 gym leaders nodding in agreement. "Furthermore, I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the bravery you exhibited today. It takes courage to stand up and fight against injustice, and you have all shown you possess this quality in abundance."

Rihan interrupted the conversation with a pressing question, "What's going to happen to Leon?" His sudden question caused everyone to turn their attention towards him, curious about what he had to say.

Rose, with a sad expression, replied, "Our top priority is to bring Leon back safely, but unfortunately, we can't do anything at the moment to ensure that. For now, we can only keep an eye on the area to monitor the movements of the Pokémon."

Raihan, with a sense of urgency in his voice, argued, "That's going to be too late. We should go back there and deal with it now. Leon is trapped in the middle of a cave, surrounded by enemy Pokémon. He is in grave danger and completely vulnerable. We cannot simply leave him there."

"I understand how you feel," Rose said, trying to calm Raihan down, "but Leon is the champion, and he will know how to stay alive while he's out there. There's no need to worry about that. I can assure you that we will do our best to bring him back."

The room fell silent momentarily, and then a tiny voice was heard from the back, indicating that someone had something to add to the conversation.

As everyone looked at him, Allister asked quietly, hiding behind his sister's arm, "What's going to happen to the Pokemon?"

"Sadly, the Pokemon will have to stay in containment. However, we will ensure that they are taken care of humanely. I hope it's not an issue for you, Raihan, considering we will be using your gym stadium," Rose replied.

Gordie spoke up, stunning everyone with his sudden outburst. It was rare for the man to voice his opinion on anything that wasn't directly related to him or his soulmate. "The Pokemon weren't the problem," he said. "They were only protecting their trainer, doing what they've been trained to do. The trainer is injured, and defenseless, we need to understand that they're not attacking us out of malice. We've treated them poorly, especially the Rangers, and now they're reacting in fear. We cannot treat them like some kind of exhibit in a Poke Zoo. They deserve better."

His mother tried to intervene, but Gordie cut her off. "Those Pokemon are traumatized, and we're only making it worse by keeping them locked up. They're lashing out because they're scared. We need to find a way to help them without anyone getting hurt. What if we take them to the island outside of Galer, where they can roam freely without causing harm to anyone? That's a better solution than locking them up in chains and treating them like prisoners."

Gordie's emotions were evident as he continued speaking. "I saw the look in that Pokemon's eyes when they were captured and put in chains. It was a look of pure terror, and it's not acceptable. As a gym leader, I cannot condone this kind of treatment. We need to do better and find a more humane way to deal with this situation."

"I completely agree with you," said Rose, calm but stern. "But for now, the Rangers made a grave mistake by bringing the unpredictable Pokemon into the city. We cannot strain them any further by taking them out and displaying them. For safety reasons, they are best kept here in Hammerlocke Castle, where the barrier will allow them to move freely within the Arena while preventing them from attacking anyone or escaping. This way, we can keep a close eye on them."

"I understand that this is a difficult time for all of us, given the recent events," Rose continued. "I would like all of you to take a much-needed break, get some rest, and we'll continue this discussion at a later time. In the meantime, I want to focus on handling the Pokemon and calming them down as quickly as possible."

Nobody said anything in response to Rose's words. He understood they needed time to process the situation before he got up and left. The other gym leaders remained seated and silent, not even acknowledging Rose's assistant as she arrived with first aid kits and food and water for them.

Leon woke up to a throbbing pain in his head. Opening his eyes, he realized he was lying on the ground, which felt stiff and uncomfortable. He was disoriented and struggled to remember how he had gotten there. He tried to move his arms and legs, but they felt heavy and unresponsive.

As his senses returned, he looked around and realized he was in a forest. The trees towered above him, their branches rustling in the breeze. The ground was covered with a thick layer of leaves, twigs, and moss. The air was cool and damp, and the sky was rock.

Leon's mind raced as he tried to piece together what had happened. Then, it all came flooding back to him. He remembered the raid against the Pokemon in the great seat, the battle that had left him wounded and exhausted. He remembered stumbling through the forest in the dark cave, trying to escape an attacking Pokemon. And then, the pain had become too much, and he had collapsed.

Leon thought about the Pokemon that had spared him as he lay there. It was a delicate-looking creature that hesitated to attack him when it saw his vulnerability. Leon wasn't sure what had changed its mind, but he was grateful for its mercy. He knew that he owed his life to that Pokemon, and he hoped to have the chance to thank it someday.

Leon slowly opened his eyes and tried not to move a muscle. He didn't want to alert the nearby Pokemon that he was awake, as he could clearly see at least three of them in his line of sight. He remained as still as possible, taking in his surroundings and trying to assess the situation.

Gradually, Leon began to move, his eyes darting around the room to check on his Pokemon. He reached for his Pokeballs, carefully assessing their condition to see if they were fit for battle. To his surprise, he noticed they remained shrunken and did not grow to their usual size. It didn't take long for him to realize that all his Pokemon were missing, including his loyal Charizard.

As he lay there, deep in thought, a tiny Pokemon approached him and started sniffing him curiously. Leon remained still, not wanting to scare the little creature away. But when the Pokemon suddenly jumped up and put its cold nose on his face, Leon yelled, causing the Pokemon to run away and alerting all the other nearby Pokemon to his presence.

Leon was in a precarious situation with a hostile Pokemon surrounding him. A bear-like creature, the same purple Pokemon he had seen earlier, and a deer-like creature all poised to attack him. The Lilligant Pokemon that had saved him from the purple Pokemon's attack bravely stepped in to stop the commotion. Despite the Lilligant's intervention, Leon was still terrified and instinctively took a few steps back while holding his head in pain.

The tiny Pokemon that had saved him evidently showed concern and attempted to calm the group of Pokemon down. At first, the little Pokemon's efforts seemed vain as the others remained hostile. However, after a brief moment, the group of Pokemon backed away, leaving Leon and his savior alone.

Leon's heart rate began to slow down as he felt the tension in the air dissipate. Looking up at the Pokemon in front of him, he saw it appeared worried about him. Feeling overwhelmed by the ordeal, Leon stood frozen as another Pokemon approached him with a hand extended.

Leon's voice trembled as he opened his eyes, trying to figure out where he was. "What is going on?" he stuttered, confused and disoriented. He glanced around the room, taking in his surroundings. The air was thick and humid, making it difficult to breathe. The cave walls were damp, and the ground was covered in a thick layer of moss.

He turned to the Pokémon next to him, hoping for some answers. "Where am I?" he asked, knowing he wouldn't get a reply. The Pokémon chirped and danced around him, happy to see him awake.

Leon noticed that the cave was different from the one they were in before. This one was much darker and more foreboding. Stalactites and stalagmites surrounded them, creating an eerie atmosphere. The heat was intense but not unbearable. The air was dry, and Leon felt his throat parched.

As he looked around, he saw a bundle beside him. Curious, he approached it and discovered it was the girl, covered in old, brown blankets. She looked frail and weak, and Leon wondered if she was okay. He tried to examine her more closely, but the Pokémon's chirping interrupted him again, drawing his attention away.

As Leon turned to face the Pokemon, he noticed it was holding something in its hand, with another smaller Pokemon standing beside it. The smaller Pokemon was the one he had battled before, but it looked much tinier than before, possibly a pre-evolution or a young one. The little Pokemon appeared wary and ready to run away, its eyes fixed on Leon.

The Lilligant, holding an object in its hand, stepped forward towards him. At first, Leon couldn't determine what it was, but as the Lilligant approached, he saw a long, green leek that looked oddly out of place in the Pokemon's grasp. Confused, he took the leek from the Pokemon's hand, turning it over in his palm. He looked at the Lilligant, perplexed, but it seemed to be urging him to go ahead with something he couldn't comprehend.

After a moment, the Pokemon took the leek back and squeezed it tightly until some of its juice leaked out. It then let the juice drip onto Leon's injured hand, which he had cut earlier. The juice made contact with his hand, and he felt a calm, soothing sensation spread through his palm. He watched in amazement as the scar on his hand, the cuts, and the bruises disappeared, leaving his hand entirely and utterly healed. He couldn't even feel any of the pain from before.

Leon was stunned, looking at his hand, which now appeared normal and healthy. He couldn't believe that the juice of a leek could heal his injuries so quickly. He watched as the Lilligant stood beside him, looking at him gently as if to say everything would be alright.

Leon looked up and saw a tiny Pokemon dancing around him. It was clear from the Pokemon's movements that it was happy to see him healed. The creature nudged a leek closer, gesturing with tiny hands that he should take it. Leon stretched out his hand and grabbed the leek, noticing it was still moist with juice.

Suddenly, another Pokemon appeared, pointing to Leon's head as if to indicate that he should use the leek to heal himself. Leon was hesitant initially but decided to follow the Pokemon's instructions. As he applied the leek to his injury, he felt a sudden warmth spreading through his head. Slowly, the wound began to close up, and he felt much better.

Leon stared at the juiceless leek in his hand, amazed at what he had just experienced. He had never seen anything like this before. He turned his attention to the Pokemon around him and was surprised to see more creatures than he had initially anticipated. There was a bear Pokemon, a purple Pokemon, a deer Pokemon, and a giant Pokemon made entirely of stone. A water-type Pokemon glared at him from a nearby puddle.

Leon tried to get up, feeling slightly better, but was stopped by a sudden growling sound. He looked around and saw that the other Pokemon in the cave were now staring at him, their eyes fixed on his every move. He remained silent, observing the room as the tiny Pokemon that had helped him earlier glared back at the other Pokemon.

Leon was lost and bewildered, and he turned to the tiny Pokemon beside him and asked, "Where am I?" But there was no response, and the little creature simply looked at the purple Pokemon with a disdainful expression. The purple Pokemon, in turn, pointed its sharp claws menacingly at Leon.

"Sneee," the Pokemon cried out, and the other Pokemon stood motionless, watching Leon's every move.

Frustrated and confused, Leon spoke up. "I don't understand what's going on. Can you please tell me what's happening so I can try to fix it? I understand that there was a misunderstanding with you attacking us, but please, if I can help in any way, I will."

However, the purple Pokemon seemed unimpressed by his words and appeared to grow angrier by the moment.

"Zoooo...Ruuuuaaaa," a tiny Pokemon that resembled the one Leon had battled earlier interjected before walking away. Leon was left with more questions than answers. None of the Pokemon seemed willing to communicate with him, and they seemed to be even more closed off as he offered his help. All he wanted to do was help, but his efforts only worsened things.

Leon was in a difficult situation as he attempted to communicate with the Pokemon. No matter how hard he tried, they seemed unresponsive to his words. However, his attention was soon diverted to a girl lying on a makeshift bed nearby. She appeared to be in a lot of distress, and Leon knew that she was the trainer of these Pokemon. Evidently, the Pokemon were agitated because of their trainer's condition.

Leon was momentarily lost in thought, examining the girl's condition from a distance. He noticed her face's discomfort and how she groaned in pain. It was heartbreaking, and Leon could feel the urgency of the situation. He knew he had to act fast.

Breaking his train of thought, Leon said, "I can help her," he said to the Pokemon, hoping to gain their attention. To his relief, all the Pokemon turned their heads towards him, including the little one walking away.

"I have basic medical knowledge," he continued, "and I believe I can help her. If I can't, I'll find someone who can. But please, give me a chance to help."

As he stepped forward, he was interrupted by a growl from the stone Pokemon at the back.

All around the room, the Pokemon had been eerily silent until they began conversing with one another. Our protagonist, Leon, had always been aware of the Pokemon's unique ability to understand human language. Still, it was only now that he realized that the Pokemon's intelligence far surpassed what he had initially assumed. As he watched them converse, he was struck by how articulate and sophisticated their speech was.

Their discussion lasted for several minutes, and Leon observed them intently, fascinated by their thought process. Suddenly, he was hit by an intense pain in his head that lasted for what felt like an eternity. Just as he thought he could no longer bear it, a male voice spoke directly to him inside his head, "In return, what would you like?"

Leon's eyes darted around the room, searching for the source of the voice, until he saw the deer Pokemon step forward. "Was that you speaking?" he asked, bewildered.

Leon stood before a group of wild Pokémon, trying to reason with them. He had been tasked with healing one of their own. The deer Pokémon, who seemed to be the leader of the group, communicated with Leon telepathically. "Yes, it is I who spoke to you. Now, please answer the question... In return for healing her or finding her suitable care, what will you ask in return?" it asked.

Leon responded firmly, "I don't want anything in return other than your safety and hers. The attack that happened earlier, I don't know when it was, but it was because some of your friends attacked some trainers. We want to clear up this mess before it gets worse." As he finished speaking, some of the Pokémon looked away angrily, stomping and glaring at him.

"That instance was not our fault," the deer Pokémon spoke, sensing the growing tension among its group. "Humans have harmed us for many years. There is no difference now, and there is no reason why we should trust you outside of Lilligent's trust upon you."

Leon, feeling remorseful, made a heartfelt request, "Can you please explain to me what went wrong so that I can try to fix it? I believe not all humans are bad, and maybe you guys just had a bad experience."

However, the Pokemon responded coldly, "All humans are bad. They have caused us harm for many years. They have also harmed her, and it is our duty to protect her after what she has done for us."

Confused and surprised, Leon asked for clarification, which further infuriated the Pokemon. They had enough and decided to strike a deal, "Enough. In exchange for your help, we will tell you what you wish to know but do not forget that we do not trust you because of the actions of you and your fellow humans towards us. Are these terms acceptable to you?" The Pokemon spoke sternly in his mind.

Leon was hesitant to agree to the proposed terms, as he knew it would take a lot of work to achieve his goals. However, he was determined to help the sick and injured woman and her Pokémon in any way he could, especially since they harbored such intense hatred toward humans. After contemplating, he said, "Alright, I agree to your terms, but I must be allowed to help her." He then requested his bag, which contained all his essential medical equipment.

The Pokémon communicated through telepathy once again, and using its psychic ability, it retrieved Leon's bag from the other side of the cave and placed it before him. With the bag in hand, Leon began to rummage through it as the Pokémon kept a watchful eye on him, studying his every move. Finally, he approached the woman lying on the makeshift bed.

"I am going to examine her now. In the meantime, could you please get me some water and a rag? It appears as though she has a high fever, and we need to cool her down immediately," Leon said as he crouched beside the woman and placed his hand on her forehead. He could feel the heat emanating from her body, and he watched as the Pokémon reluctantly carried out his request.

Leon approached the girl lying on the ground with a sense of urgency. He knelt down beside her and carefully began to uncover her face. As he peeled away the layers of cloth, he discovered that her skin was tanned, but it was apparent that she was not well. Her skin was far too pale for someone with her complexion. He couldn't help but feel a sense of worry for her.

The girl's hair was slightly tangled, and she seemed in pain as she whimpered softly. Leon quickly comforted her, assuring her he was there to help. He checked her for any injuries, starting with her face and moving down to her upper body. To his relief, he found only a few bruises and cuts that had already been treated with healing herbs.

A Riolu approached him slowly as he worked, carrying a water bowl. The Pokémon seemed hesitant to approach him, but Leon managed to put him at ease. The Riolu placed the bowl on the ground and sat at a distance, watching intently as Leon examined its trainer. Leon couldn't help feeling grateful for the Pokémon's company. It was a small comfort in an otherwise dire situation.

Leon carefully pulled back the blanket covering her and was struck by the outdated nature of her clothes. They seemed to have been made many years ago and were now tattered and worn. Despite this observation, he did not mention anything and lifted her shirt slowly to examine her for any injuries. He was relieved to see no marks on her chest or torso, but he noticed a few bruises on her stomach.

However, his relief was short-lived when he realized she had at least a couple of broken ribs that required urgent medical attention. Despite this, he delayed informing the Pokemon and instead focused on checking for other injuries. After gently feeling her body down below, he reached her feet. When he lifted the sleeves of her pant legs, he was struck by the sight of numerous scars that crisscrossed her legs, some of which were minor cuts caused by walking, while others were deep gashes that looked like they were caused by Pokemon attacks.

The worst of the injuries, however, were on her feet. They were covered in deep cuts and bruises that looked like they had been caused by a combination of walking and Pokemon attacks. Leon felt sympathy for the girl and wondered what could have happened to her to cause such severe injuries. Nonetheless, he resolved to do everything he could to help her and ensure she received the necessary care.

As she took off her shoes, he couldn't help but wince at the sight of her feet. There were blisters on every inch of her skin, some as small as a pinhead, others as significant as a grape. He watched as she winced in pain, the raw, tender skin exposed from the burst blisters. Her feet were almost entirely purple, the bruises so severe that they looked like they had been dunked in ink.

He could see that the cuts and wounds on her feet were not healing correctly, and the scars left behind were a testament to that. She had been walking on them too long, and the minor injuries had worsened. Even the slightest movement caused her agony; he could feel her pain just by looking at her.

Leon assessed her injuries and concluded that he could only provide minimal assistance. He gently cleaned and bandaged the wounds, but the extent of her injuries meant they needed to get her to a professional doctor as soon as possible. As he shared this with his Pokemon, he could see the concern etched on their faces. They knew their trainer was in trouble and were determined to do everything they could to help her.

The Pokémon's voice again echoed in Leon's head, adamant and angry. "No, we will not allow her near the village after what they've done to her."

Leon tried to reason with the Pokémon, acknowledging its fear of humans and the wrongs they've committed, but he knew deep down that the wounded girl needed professional help. "I understand that humans have hurt you and her, but we can't let her suffer. She needs medical attention for the wounds I found."

The Pokémon was quick to interrupt Leon, frustration and anger evident in its tone. "Humans have belittled her and treated her like trash. We won't let her go through that again, not after what we've seen. They have caused enough harm to her and to us."

Leon couldn't help but feel helpless as he stood there, trying to reason with the stubborn Pokémon. He knew that he had to find a way to convince it to let the girl receive the help she needed before it was too late.

Leon stood quietly, deep in thought, pondering why the Pokemon were so hostile towards humans. However, he couldn't understand the situation clearly, so he decided not to probe further.

"Very well," Leon said, turning towards the group of Pokemon. "But, if it's okay with all of you, I would like to make a phone call and seek help from a professional to treat her. Would that be acceptable?"

The Pokemon's voice rose in anger. "What do you mean by 'call'?" they demanded. "Are you planning to summon another human here?" The rest of the Pokemon in the cave echoed the same outraged sentiment.

Leon spoke to the telepathic Pokemon calmly and reassuringly, trying to ease its worries. "Please don't worry, I won't do anything to harm her. But if you allow me to make a phone call to a medical professional, I could get a better opinion on how to help her."

The Pokemon seemed puzzled, not understanding what a "phone call" was, but it nodded in agreement. "If it will help her, then please do so."

Leon swiftly removed his first aid kit from his backpack and carefully tended the girl's wounds. He cleaned them with antiseptic wipes and used disinfectant spray to prevent infections. He then carefully wrapped the wounds with sterile bandages, ensuring they were snug but tight.

The girl's temperature was rising, so Leon grabbed a damp cloth and placed it on her forehead. He ensured the water was calm and refreshing, hoping it would help bring down her fever. He also applied scarring cream to her wounds to minimize potential scarring.

The Pokemon watched Leon throughout the process, ensuring he wasn't harming the girl. But Leon was gentle and careful, treating her wounds with the utmost care and attention.

He knelt beside her motionless body and gently took hold of her feet, carefully beginning to massage them. As he applied pressure, she let out a small whimper of pain, revealing that the pain was too great for her unconscious state to bear. He immediately realized the seriousness of the situation and applied some pain lotion to the areas that needed it the most.

Leon's hand darted to the side of his bag in urgent need. Observing him keenly, the Pokemon tilted their head as he held up his phone. However, the Rotom inside remained unresponsive, and Leon felt relief.

"Hey, I need more assistance. Don't worry," Leon spoke to the Pokemon, hoping to ease their concern. They remained silent, staring at him intently as he started dialing his best friend's number. Although Leon considered reaching out to the hospital, he knew his best friend understood his situation better than any doctor ever could.

As he put Raihan on speakerphone, the Pokémon started to get agitated, as though they thought Leon was doing something harmful. They began to cry out in distress.

"It's okay, it's okay," Leon reassured them. "I'm just calling my friend to help me heal her. Please calm down."

Raihan's voice came through the phone, full of panic. "-Leon, please, are you okay?"

Amid chaos with the Pokemon being on edge, Leon replied to Raihan with a calm demeanor, "I'm fine. But I need immediate help."

Raihan, having received no word from Leon for two days, was alarmed and asked, "What's wrong? Where are you?"

Leon replied, "I'll fill you in later. Right now, I need your advice on how to treat fractured bones and infected wounds. The Pokemon have given me the chance to heal their trainer, and I need your assistance."

Raihan was taken aback by this revelation and asked, "What do you mean the Pokemon are allowing you to heal their trainer? Leon, what's going on?" His desperation was palpable.

Leon's voice trembled with urgency as he spoke, "Listen, I need some medical advice right now. The situation is critical. The Pokemon are agitated and they just want their trainer to get better. I need you to help me find someone who can heal this girl."

Raihan's heart raced as he heard the desperation in Leon's voice. He rushed to find a medic, his mind running with the situation's urgency. After some time, he finally found a doctor who could help. The Medic immediately got on the phone and started guiding Leon to stabilize the girl's condition and manage her high fever.

For an hour, Leon was wholly focused on the task at hand. The Pokemon, sensing the gravity of the situation and that no one would harm their trainer, lay down and stared at Leon intently. Finally, when things had calmed down, Leon could talk to Raihan with a sense of relief.

After an hour, Raihan inquired about the girl's condition, "How is she doing now?"

Leon examined the girl's body and replied, "It seems like there hasn't been much improvement. However, she does look better than when we first saw her. The Pokémon seem to have calmed down a bit, but they're still visibly agitated. I'm sorry, my friend."

Raihan empathized with Leon, "We understand that this is a difficult situation. But please know that we're doing everything we can to get you out of there safely. We're working on releasing the captured Pokémon, and we'll do whatever it takes to make sure that you're okay."

Leon expressed his concern, "How is everyone else holding up? Is everyone safe?"

Raihan reassured Leon, "Don't worry about us. We're all okay, but we're more concerned about your safety. Please tell us where you are so that we can get you the help you need and get you out of there as soon as possible."

Leon looked around the cave, trying to get his bearings. Clearly, this was a different cave than he had been in before. "I don't know where I am," he said before focusing on the Pokemon nearby.

Thankfully, they didn't seem hostile. "Don't worry," he said to them, "I think I'm going to be okay. If anything, I think these Pokemon are putting up with me right now because I'm helping heal their trainer."

His thoughts turned to his soulmate, Piers. "How about Piers? Is he okay?" he asked his best friend.

"I'm fine, Leon," Piers replied through the phone. "Are you okay? Are you injured?"

"I'm fine, love. There's no need to worry about me," Leon reassured him. "I'll make it to you as soon as I can, but I need to finish this first."

He looked again at the woman lying before him. "Hopefully, after I'm done healing her, I'm allowed to leave and go back to you."

"Alright," Piers spoke before falling silent.

Leon could hear Chairman Rose's voice through the static-laden phone. "We're trying to locate you, Leon. If everything goes according to plan, we'll get to you as soon as possible. Do you understand?"

Leon took a deep breath before calmly replying, "I understand, Chairman. Please make sure that all the Rangers and gym leaders are safe."

Raihan, the gym leader, spoke up next. "Don't worry about us, Leon. Just focus on surviving with those Pokémon over there, okay?"

As Leon listened to the sound of the Pokémon around him growing more agitated, he realized he needed to end the call. "I'll do my best, Raihan. Take care." His last words were met with silence as he hung up, turning his attention back to the Pokémon.

Leon felt a strange energy from the telepathic Pokemon before him as he stood there. It was as if the creature was trying to tell him something important. And then, it spoke.

"...Those humans..." the Pokemon began, its voice filled with anger and sadness. "They worry about you."

Leon was taken aback. He knew that his friends and family back home were concerned about him.

"Yes, they are my friends and family, and they want me to return home safely," he replied, hoping to connect with the Pokemon.

"Sadly, that is not the case for everyone else. Our trainer has suffered so much at the hands of humans who called themselves her friends. She trusted them, but they betrayed her trust in the worst possible way," the Pokemon continued, its eyes fixed on their trainer lying motionless on the ground.

As Leon listened to the Pokemon's words, he couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt. How many others had he inadvertently hurt with his actions? He made a silent promise to himself to be more mindful of the consequences of his choices in the future.

" if it is all right with you, I would like to know more about her story and her betrayal so I can get a clear picture as to what happened and what caused all of you to be so angry," Leon asked the Pokemon.

Leon sat across from the Pokemon, his hands clasped tightly in front of him. The tension in the air was palpable as he waited for the creature's response.

"Very well, it is a part of our deal," the Pokemon spoke, its voice low and rumbling. "But you must understand that your point of view means nothing to us."

Leon nodded, though disappointment gnawed at his gut. He had hoped for a more favorable outcome, but he knew better than to argue with the creature before him.

"Of course, I understand," he said, his tone conciliatory. "But please..."

Before he could finish his sentence, the Pokemon stood up, towering over him with an imposing presence. Leon swallowed hard, realizing that he had pushed too far.

Leon listened intently as the Pokémon began to explain the story of the outsider girl. Suddenly, he felt a twitch in his head and saw vivid images of the girl beside him. She had short white hair, red eyes, and a traditional kimono that looked beautiful on her. The Pokémon continued to speak, revealing that the girl was treated poorly for something beyond her control. She was kicked out, belittled, and treated less than human. Leon saw a few images in his head of people in stylish clothing angrily looking at the girl who only had a frown. She appeared begging as she had tears in her eyes while the people seemed to yell or throw something at her.

His heart ached at her suffering, and he couldn't help but ask, "Why would they do such a thing?" Suddenly, the tiny white and red Pokémon from before, stepped up and slowly transformed into the figure of a little boy with a pink outfit and a big hat on his head.

The boy's voice was filled with deep sorrow and pain as he recounted the story of the girl who had been rejected by the humans in the village. She had been treated with the same cruelty that they had always faced. They had cast her out into the wilderness to die, believing she was responsible for all the misfortunes that had befallen their village. Despite the harsh treatment she had received, she had remained kind to them all. It was a testament to her character, and the boy believed she was the only one who truly understood the evil lurking within humans.

Leon was struck by the boy's words and tried to piece together what had happened. He understood that they lived in a secluded village, and the girl was an outsider who had come to live there. Something terrible must have occurred that led to her being banished from the village into the wilderness. Unfortunately, there were no other villages or towns or even a city nearby where she could go for help.

"I don't understand. If the humans treated her so badly, why do you hate them on her behalf? Wouldn't you hate her too?" Leon asked, his confusion evident.

The illusion boy spoke in a hushed tone, his voice filled with emotion. "She was the only one who showed us kindness. She didn't judge us for being Pokémon, unlike everyone else. She treated us like her own family, even better than our own mother and others. The Clans, who were supposed to protect us, didn't even look at us the way she did."

"Despite having little food, she always shared it with us. Her generosity knew no bounds. But humans have betrayed her trust, and you are a human. So, you will betray her too," the Pokemon spoke, its tone laced with anger and disappointment.

The small dog Pokemon growled at the illusion boy, trying to calm him down. The illusion boy then transformed into his regular Pokémon form and sat beside the dog Pokemon, still staring at Leon with suspicion and fear.

Leon spoke softly, trying to convey his understanding and compassion towards the deer Pokemon and its group. He paused momentarily, waiting for the Pokemon to acknowledge his request to clarify something. The deer Pokemon nodded, indicating that Leon could continue.

"I believe I have a better understanding of the situation now, but I want to make sure I have all the facts straight," Leon said. "I know that you and your group have faced many challenges and that she, in particular, has endured a lot. As a champion and as a human being, I want to assure you that I will do everything in my power to ensure that you and she will never experience any harm again."

Leon could sense the skepticism emanating from the Pokemon, but he knew building trust would take time. "I understand that my words may not hold much weight right now, but I am committed to earning your trust to help you all find safety. This includes those who have been taken captive," he added with conviction.

Leon hoped his words would convey his sincerity and desire to help. He knew the road ahead would be rugged but determined to see it through.

The Pokemon State was enveloped in a heavy silence that was only broken by the voice of the deer Pokemon. The creature spoke with an air of authority, its words laced with mistrust and suspicion. "Humans are known to be filled with lies, and we do not believe you. You must heal her if you wish to live. We ask for nothing more from you, and your words hold no weight in this place," the Pokemon declared, its gaze unwavering. The room was now charged with an electric tension as everyone waited with bated breath for the next move.