Pokémon Gray

by Carlos Shiny

Pokémon Gray. What if Ash had never traveled to Unova before now? Ash, now eighteen and strongest trainer in the world, wants to take an important step in his journey to become a Pokémon Master. It's not about participating in another Pokémon League Tournament or defeating other champions, but doing something new and completely different.

4. A New Friend

A New Friend

«The first move goes to the challenger!» declared the electronic referee. «Let's start with Aqua Jet!» The Otter Pokémon covered itself in water and dashed low towards its opponent. «Try to dodge!» ordered Cilan. «Move as much as you can!» commanded Anita.
The Water-type Pokémon obeyed, zigzagging to the right and left, making it hard to predict its movements. Poor Lillipup couldn't figure out where the opponent was coming from and got hit head-on, being thrown into the air. Despite this, Cilan didn't panic. «Try to land and use Tackle!» ordered the Gym Leader. Meanwhile, Oshawott had landed and was catching its breath.
As soon as Anita saw the Puppy Pokémon running at high speed towards her Otter Pokémon, she shouted, «Defend with Razor Shell!» The Pokémon complied, holding its shell in its hands and using it as a shield. The girl's plan worked. Oshawott was pushed back a few meters but didn't suffer much damage.
«Now use Aqua Jet!» From the Otter's mouth came a powerful stream of water that hit the opponent head-on, sending it flying into the air. Even in this situation, the Gym Leader remained calm. «Use Work Up!» The Puppy Pokémon's body glowed a light brown, and so did its eyes.
«Oshawott! Hit with Aqua Jet!» The Otter Pokémon covered itself in water, becoming like a wild projectile. «Come on, Lillipup, use Tackle!» ordered the Gym Leader. The Puppy Pokémon delivered a powerful attack, made even stronger by the force of gravity. The two Pokémon collided mid-field, generating a powerful explosion. When the dust settled, the result of the battle was clear to everyone.
«Lillipup is unable to battle. Oshawott wins.» declared the electronic referee. «Return, Lillipup. You did a great job.» Cilan called back his Pokémon. «If you want, you can also switch yours.» the Gym Leader reminded her. «Buddy, do you want to continue or would you prefer to rest a bit?» she asked the Pokémon. «Sha! Sha!» it responded. «Good, then we can continue!» declared the Gym Leader. «Pansage! It's your turn!» The Gym Leader sent out the Grass-type monkey. «The first move goes to the challenger!» declared the electronic referee.
«Oshawott! Use Aqua Jet!» ordered the Trainer. The Otter Pokémon covered itself in water and charged at the opponent. «Defend with Vine Whip!» Thick vines sprouted from the Pokémon's head. It crossed them in front of itself for protection. "Hey! That's the same technique Ash's Snivy used!" she thought. "But how can I counter such a technique?"
«Now throw it!» The vines, compressed by the attack, quickly released and, like springs, hurled the opponent to the other side of the Gym. «Oshawott is unable to battle. Pansage wins!» declared the electronic referee.
Anita quickly called it back into the Poké Ball. «You were amazing!» she said to the Poké Ball.
Cilan was rather puzzled. Why ask it to battle again when, until that moment, the fight had been identical to the previous one? What did that girl have in mind?
«Very well! Lillipup! Let's show them what we've learned!» The girl seemed confident and enthusiastic, but despite this, the Gym Leader remained impassive.
«The first move goes to the Gym Leader!» declared the electronic referee.
«Okay, Pansage! Use Scratch!» The Simian Pokémon started running towards the opponent. It had one hand with sharp claws that reflected the light.
For now, the script was identical to the previous battle, further increasing the Gym Leader's doubts. Unlike the last time, Anita seemed quite calm.
It almost seemed like she was fine with it.
«Attack with Fire Fang!» ordered the girl, smiling. She had kept her secret weapon until it was really necessary.
The Pokémon started running towards the opponent, its mouth covered in fire, showing sharp teeth.
«Pansage! Dodge and slow it down with Bullet Seed!» ordered the Gym Leader, aware that an attack of that kind could cause great damage to his Pokémon.
The Grass-type monkey began to shoot a large number of seeds from its mouth, colored yellow and green, which hit the ground with force, creating a gigantic dust cloud. It was impossible to see anything. Lillipup was stuck, unable to react.
«Lillipup isn't the only Pokémon to have learned new moves. Pansage has too, right?» asked the Gym Leader rhetorically, also smiling.
«Pansage! Use Rock Tomb!» The Simian Pokémon, still suspended in the air thanks to the previous Bullet Seed, generated a gigantic boulder from its arms and hurled it towards the battlefield.
Then another. And another.
Anita knew she had to react, or she would lose again. And she was afraid of what might happen. Would she still deserve Ash and Serena's trust? But above all, would she still deserve the trust of her Pokémon?
Those thoughts froze her. Again.
«Come on! You have to react! You can do it!» Carlos stood up from his seat and encouraged the challenger.
It wasn't something he usually did, but in that case, he owed it to her after what had happened. Cheering for her was his little way of repaying her.
"He's right! We can't stay still," Anita thought.
«Lillipup! We need to react! Move as fast as you can, let's confuse him!» ordered the young Trainer.
By now the dust had cleared. The Pokémon was almost completely surrounded by rocks. It looked trapped.
There was only one way out and, in all likelihood, it was a trap.
«Come on, Pansage! Finish the job!» ordered the Gym Leader. The Simian Pokémon generated another boulder with its upper limbs and hurled it.
«Lillipup!» was all Anita could say, paralyzed. «Just the final touch!» the Gym Leader said as his Pokémon prepared to launch a gigantic boulder at the opponent. It was clear to everyone what would happen if the attack hit.
Anita was desperate, and her Pokémon could sense it perfectly. It understood that, in such situations, it would have to manage on its own.
The gigantic boulder was now very close. It was about to be hit.
A huge crash shook the entire Gym. The boulder had hit the center of that trap.
«No! Not again! I'm a total failure!» Anita despaired. She spread her arms and bent her knees, in utter despair. An eerie silence fell over the Gym.
«Wait, Ash, something's not right.» Serena commented, turning to the boy. «Have you noticed that the battle result hasn't been announced yet?» Serena pointed out. «Last time, they announced it immediately.» she added.
"By regulation, spectators were not allowed to intervene in the battle, but due to a loophole in the rules, nothing prevented Pokémon from doing so.
Ash turned to Pikachu and whispered something in its ear. The Pokémon, upon hearing its Trainer's words, descended from the stands and reached Anita swiftly. It moved quickly and joined the girl within moments.
«Hey! Pikachu? What's going on?» Anita asked. The Pokémon, using its acting skills honed over the years, stood on its hind legs and threw a few punches in the air with its front limbs. «Pika?» it inquired.
«Are you telling me about the battle?» Anita asked. The Pokémon nodded slightly, then lay down on the ground with its paws spread.
«Are you telling me the battle isn't over? But Lillipup...» Pikachu, back on all fours, simply tapped the ground of the battlefield with its tail. «Are you saying it's underground? But Lillipup doesn't know...» The girl couldn't finish her sentence. The ground began to tremble. Not far from the rock trap, Lillipup emerged from the ground.
«You're right! She's learned Dig!» Anita praised. And it seemed the surprises weren't over. Lillipup's body was glowing with a light that tended towards blue.
«It's evolving!» exclaimed everyone present. The Pokémon's body grew larger, the blue fur on its back lengthened, forming a kind of mantle that now also covered its tail. The fur on its face changed shape, transforming into a sort of mustache on the lower part and a three-pointed crest on the upper part. Overall, the Pokémon's expression became more serious and less playful. Anita wasted no time and scanned the newly evolved Herdier with her Smart Rotom.
«Herdier, Loyal Pokémon, Normal type, female specimen, evolution of Lillipup. It's very intelligent and easily attaches to others. According to some theories, it was the first Pokémon to become a human companion. Known moves: Tackle, Bite, Crunch, Dig. Ability: Intimidate.» Anita remained silent for a moment.
«What does the Intimidate ability do?» she asked.
The Smart Rotom responded immediately. «Intimidate is a Pokémon ability that allows the Pokémon entering the field to weaken the opponent's attacks.»
Empowered by her Pokémon's evolution, Anita smiled. Before resuming the battle, she knelt down to Pikachu and gave it a pat on the head.
«And thanks to you. Without your help, it would have ended up like last time.» The Pokémon smiled back at her.
«The battle can resume!» declared the Gym Leader. «Now that Herdier has evolved, we can finally put it to the test. Use Scratch!» The Stout Pokémon ran towards its opponent. It had a hand with a sharp shape and claws that reflected the light.
Anita remained watchful. Now that Lillipup had evolved, it had become stronger, even physically. By now, the little monkey was about to attack Herdier. «Now! Attack with Crunch!» Anita ordered. The Pokémon turned sharply and jumped on its opponent, biting its shoulder with its fiery fangs.
«And now throw it!» she ordered. The Pokémon, thanks to the powerful neck muscles, forcefully moved its head and threw the opponent against the barriers. The noise was deafening, and the impact was so violent that it created a hole in them.
«Pansage is no longer able to battle. Herdier wins. Therefore, the challenger wins the match.» declared the electronic referee. Anita couldn't believe it.
«Did we... did we win?» she asked, still incredulous.
Meanwhile, she was joined by Ash, Serena, and Carlos. «You did it in the end. It wasn't easy, but you did an amazing job.» praised Ash. «Actually, it's all thanks to you. If you hadn't done everything you did...» Serena smiled at her. «Don't say that. In the end, it was you and your Pokémon who fought. If you won, it's all thanks to you.»
Meanwhile, Cilan had retrieved the Tri Badge from the Gym.
«This is the Tri Badge, proof that you and your Pokémon have defeated this Gym. You still have nine more Gym battles before you can challenge the League. And remember, each time you challenge a Gym, the subsequent battles will be tougher.» With that said, the Gym Leader and the girl shook hands.
«What do you mean there are ten Gyms in Unova?» asked Ash. «I've always been used to eight.» he added. «Unova is a very large region with many big cities. To avoid unnecessary rivalries, the League decided to allow two more cities to have their own Gyms. Another city has also submitted its application, but we don't know if it will be accepted or not.» explained the Gym Leader.
Ash, albeit a bit perplexed, accepted it. What really mattered to him was that Anita had managed to win her first Badge.
Anita took out from her bag the badge holder, a gift from Professor Juniper. It was made of metal and painted black and pink. It was slightly larger than the ones Ash was used to, which made sense since it had to hold ten badges.
The inside was lined with black foam, shaped to hold the badges. Anita hadn't had time to put it in before she was called by the Gym Leader.
«A-A-A, before you put it in the badge holder, we have to take the traditional photo.» The girl was a bit bewildered. Certainly, she didn't expect the post-battle ceremony to include this.
She approached the Gym Leader slowly, still holding the newly won Tri Badge.
«Carlos?» The assistant immediately understood. He stepped away from the group to rush into a nearby room. He opened the door and went in for a few moments.
He returned shortly after with a large camera hanging around his neck. It was made by a well-known company from Kanto.
Cilan approached Anita and invited her to show the newly won badge to the camera.
Carlos took some photos from different angles, but at one point, he stopped.
«I think it would be fair if the real heroes of this battle were also part of the photos, don't you think?» he proposed.
The two understood immediately and grabbed their Poké Balls.
«Come out!» The girl and the Gym Leader released their Pokémon. Both the Gym Leader's Pokémon and Oshawott had regained consciousness, although they were still a bit battered.
«Sha?» Oshawott looked at his teammate, she had changed... she had grown...
Anita immediately noticed her initial Pokémon's perplexity. «It's still her, just... she evolved.» she explained to the Pokémon. «One day, it will be your turn too.» she told him with a smile. «Sha?» The little Pokémon was perplexed. He was fine as he was. At that moment, he didn't think he had any reason to evolve.
Carlos took some more photos, with the Pokémon also included. «And now, if you don't mind, I'd like to immortalize you too.» Ash, Serena, and Pikachu approached the pair.
After taking the last photos, finally the three could leave the Gym. It was still early for lunch; they would return later.
«Hey, Ash! Since you don't have much to do, what do you think about a battle?» Carlos proposed. Sure. He remembered how it went last time, but the excitement caused by that battle made him feel like it.
«Sure, that's fine. If you don't mind, of course.» replied the boy, seeking agreement from the girls. Judging by their expressions, there didn't seem to be any particular issues.
Certainly, Serena would have preferred to train for her upcoming Showcase debut, but she knew just how much Ash valued battles.
Pikachu started to jump off the boy's shoulder and head towards the field, but Ash stopped him. «Sorry, buddy, but this time I'd like someone else to battle.» explained the boy. «Pika?» The Pokémon looked rather disappointed but decided to accept the decision nonetheless.
«Umbreon! It's your turn!» Carlos sent out his trusted Pokémon. He didn't have much choice, though he didn't want to show
it.
«Snivy! I choose you!» Ash sent out the newcomer, sparking perplexity among those present, Carlos included.
«Are you sure about...?» Carlos asked him.
Both the trainer and especially the Pokémon looked at him with confusion. Snivy was happy to be chosen; it meant that Ash trusted her.
«Let's get started, or are we just going to stand here staring at each other?» Carlos was impatient to battle, already anticipating his victory.
«You can start.» Carlos invited them.
Ash didn't need to be told twice. «Alright, let's begin with Attract!» The Pokémon winked at the target and unleashed a barrage of hearts.
«Umbreon! Try to resist!» Carlos encouraged, but it was too late. His Pokémon had already been struck. «Let's try anyway! Use Quick Attack!» Umbreon remained still.
«This is one of the consequences of being in love.» commented Spighetto, who was watching. «When a Pokémon is in love, it can't attack.»
«Good job, Snivy! Attack with Leaf Tornado!» The Pokémon leaped into the air and generated a giant tornado of sharp leaves from her tail, hurling it at the target.
Umbreon was caught in a powerful current and lifted into the air. Snivy spun around, directing the air current downwards, sending Umbreon crashing.
Finally, the Pokémon landed gently. Umbreon was a bit shaken but still able to continue.
«Go with Shadow Ball!» Carlos ordered. Umbreon generated a dark energy sphere from its mouth, traveling at great speed.
«Send it back with Vine Whip!» Two long vines emerged from Snivy's back, striking the energy sphere. With a quick movement, it was now on a collision course with Umbreon.
The impact was inevitable. The explosion was rather violent, but Umbreon seemed able to battle still.
Carlos was starting to show signs of frustration. He hadn't managed to touch Snivy in any way yet.
«Maybe a close-range move will work! Try Quick Attack!» Umbreon dashed towards Snivy, almost becoming invisible.
«I wonder what she'll come up with now.» Serena wondered.
«Come on, Snivy! Slow him down with Vine Whip!» Long whips emerged from Snivy's back, reaching Umbreon and knocking him down.
«Let's finish this with Leaf Tornado!» Snivy leaped into the air and generated a giant tornado of sharp leaves from her tail, hurling it at the target.
Umbreon was caught in a powerful current and lifted into the air. Snivy spun around, directing the air current downwards, sending Umbreon crashing.
Finally, Snivy landed gently, noticing Umbreon on the ground, unconscious. She jumped for joy, repaying Ash's trust.
Umbreon fell to the ground, defeated.
Carlos's expression changed, becoming rather disappointed but with a hint of satisfaction. For the second time, Ash had demonstrated what it meant to be a World Champion.
«You're truly incredible! With just a Snivy, you managed to defeat my Umbreon!» Carlos attempted to congratulate him.
Ash and his Snivy exchanged the same expression; they were both quite taken aback.
«Oh... She's not just any Snivy. She's a Snivy who wants more than anything to become stronger. She puts in so much effort. I'm just trying to support her desire.» explained Ash, earning Snivy's favor. Carlos didn't understand. Could it really be that simply desiring to become stronger could lead to such results?
«I also want to become stronger. Umbreon and I, even when he was still an Eevee, trained every day. To improve. We even managed to defeat challengers... but you're on a whole other level!»
The boy knelt down, almost as if praying.
The girls put their hands over their mouths to stifle a laugh. It seemed like he was about to ask them to marry him.
«Can I join your journey? I want more than anything to become stronger, and I'm sure you'll be the best teacher.» he continued.
Ash's expression changed. However hard he tried, though, he couldn't hide a smile.
«I'm fine with that... The more the merrier... but it's not just up to me. You know that.» Ash turned to the girls. Seeing that their expressions remained unchanged, Carlos decided to play another card.
«I promise I'll cook for you... you saw how well I do in the kitchen...»
Nothing. The girls' expressions didn't change a bit.
«I apologize for pretending to be the Gym Leader. I just wanted to make life easier for Spighetto and the others. And so...»
The two girls exchanged a knowing look.
«You're in.» Serena welcomed him. Carlos was thrilled. He knew they would have to work hard, but having the World Champion as his master would give him great motivation.
«Then I'll go get ready! We can leave after lunch, what do you say?» Carlos proposed. With nothing else to do, Ash and the girls agreed.
«Before we leave, though, we should stop by the Pokémon Center. It's always best to make sure everything's in order before we leave.» Serena had just finished consulting her Smart Rotom.
After lunch, the four of them headed to the city's Pokémon Center. At that moment, the Center was practically empty.
Besides them and Nurse Joy, there was only one woman.
She wore a lab coat and had long dark blue hair, held back by a flower-patterned pink hairpin. She wore a pair of glasses.
Next to her was a small, quadruped Pokémon with a roundish shape. It was primarily pink in color, adorned with a pattern of purple and dark pink flowers on its body. It appeared to levitate and was surrounded by a sort of dark smoke.
The woman was talking to Nurse Joy, probably about the Pokémon accompanying her. Anita scanned the woman's Pokémon with her Smart Rotom.
«Munna, the Dream Eater Pokémon. Psychic type. Female specimen. When Munna eats someone's dreams, that person forgets what they dreamt. It floats constantly in the air. Known moves: Hypnosis, Dream Eater, Shadow Ball, Moonblast.»
The girl put her Smart Rotom back into her bag.
«Wait a moment.» Carlos stopped her. «But in the Pokédex photo, it looks different.» Anita took out her Smart Rotom again and searched for more information about the Pokémon.
«Here it says that if it emits dark smoke, it has eaten nightmares. Or if it's very worried.»
The four approached Nurse Joy's counter to have their Pokémon checked. As they did so, they overheard part of the conversation between the woman and Nurse Joy.
«I would rule out the fact that it ate nightmares, if it happened as you said this morning, then it's more likely worried about something or someone.» explained Nurse Joy.
«Oh, sorry if I wasted your time.» apologized the woman. «I was worried about my Pokémon and...» Ash smiled at her. «Don't worry. In fact, we'll help you. Can you tell us what happened?» Ash asked her.
«Oh, sorry. I didn't introduce myself. My name is Fennel. I'm a scientist who worked at the Dreamyard. Before something happened that I can't remember right now. We were conducting some experiments to obtain clean energy from Munna and Musharna's Dream Smoke. While they were doing some studies, there was a gigantic explosion. My colleagues and I were rescued by a guy who trained a Hypno. Apart from that, I don't remember anything else.» she explained.
«Now excuse me, but I have to go. Work is calling me!» The woman, escorted by her Munna, left the Pokémon Center. She walked away and left the building.
«Hi, guys! Now I'm at your service. Do you want me to check your Pokémon?» A strange creature peeked out from behind the counter.
It was a bipedal and chubby Pokémon, pink and cream in color, except for its blue eyes. The upper part of its head and ears were pink, while the lower part was cream. Its ears hung down the sides of its head. At the bottom of its head were two appendages resembling a stethoscope. Its torso was pink on the sides and back, and cream on the belly. Its arms, with three fingers, were pink. Its legs were short and cream-colored, with two toes on its rather short feet.
Anita scanned the strange creature with her Smart Rotom.
«Audino, the Listening Pokémon. Normal type. Male specimen. This tender-hearted Pokémon can sense the physical and mental conditions of those it touches with its antennae. Known moves: Heal Pulse, Safeguard, Protect.»
Ash and the others placed their Poké Balls on the counter for Nurse Joy to collect. Shortly after, Pikachu jumped onto the counter.
«I apologize if I'm being intrusive, but... something doesn't add up.» Nurse Joy paused while arranging the Poké Balls on the cart.
«Tell me... Serena, right?» Nurse Joy responded. «I don't understand one thing. If Professor Fennel worked closely with Munna and Musharna, shouldn't she know why she's surrounded by dark smoke?» she asked.
The nurse resumed her work. «I couldn't tell you. She's been coming here for a couple of days now. Always the same way. I try to reassure her. A few months ago, there was an incident at the Dreamyard, but she's been acting like this only for a few days.» Nurse Joy explained. «Since then, practically every day, Fennel would go to the Dreamyard to take care of a colony of Munna and Musharna that had settled in the ruins. She had explained how, after the explosion, a strange energy had concentrated in those ruins, attracting several Pokémon. For them, it was a safe and protected place. Among the various Pokémon that took refuge there were many Munna and Musharna. She and other volunteers were taking care of them, at least until a few days ago.» she added. «What do you say? Would you like to visit it?» Ash asked. «Yes, we'd love to. First I'll take care of your Pokémon, then I'll get you what you need to visit the Dreamyard. It's safe, but it's better to wear some protective gear just in case any rubble decides to fall!» Nurse Joy replied as she took Pikachu and the various Poké Balls to the back of the counter.
«By the way... if you're going there, could you take these berries?» Nurse Joy pointed to a heavy-looking bag placed not far from the door.
The four reached the lounge area and sat down on one of the sofas provided for Trainers.
In front of the sofa was a table with several magazines and newspapers. A little further away were three vending machines, one for hot drinks, one for snacks and cold drinks, and one dedicated to Pokémon food.
Ash, seeing the vending machines, asked, «Would you like something?»
«Sorry, but we just finished lunch! Could it be that you're already hungry?» Carlos asked him.
«No. There are times when I'm not hungry. When I'm asleep, for example.» Ash replied jokingly.
Given the lack of success of his proposal, the boy settled for grabbing a pack of cheese croissants for himself.
As Ash opened the package, spreading quite a noticeable smell in the air, Serena picked up one of the newspapers available to guests.
It was a general information newspaper mainly dedicated to young Trainers. It featured numerous columns and articles covering a wide range of interests.
Topics ranged from training tips to how to best care for Pokémon, such as which products to use to make their fur softer and shinier, to advice on what to feed them and similar topics.
There were also interviews with current celebrities or Trainers who had particularly distinguished themselves.
But what interested the girl most was something else.
Date and time of the first Showcase she was supposed to face in Unova.
«But there should be...» The girl nervously flipped through the newspaper. «Ah-ha! Here it is!» The three looked at her curiously. «What were you looking for?» Carlos asked her.
«I've decided to travel with Ash and Anita to participate in the Unova Showcases. And apparently, the next Showcase will be held in Eolea. A small town located between Striaton City and Nacrene City. It seems there will be a special feature on the winner of the Showcase!» she replied.
«That's fantastic! I can't wait to see you in action!» Ash replied dreamily.
Carlos had a different opinion, «What do you mean 'the winner'? Do they already know it'll be a girl?» They all looked at him as if he were an alien. «You know, only girls can participate in the Showcases.» Serena explained.
«On that note... I would really love it if you also participated in the Showcase, what do you think?» Anita remained silent.
It was a proposal she never expected to receive.
«I don't know. I'm afraid it might go wrong. I'm afraid of being judged. And besides... I wouldn't want this to affect the reason why you decided to travel with me.» she replied.
Ash, who had finished eating and thrown the bag in the trash, turned to the younger Trainer. «Sometimes getting distracted and taking a break is the best choice. And it's never wasted time when you're with your Pokémon. Even if there's no
battling in Showcases.» Ash replied.
«Of course, I don't have direct experience with Showcases... but I've participated in some Pokémon Contests and they've been enlightening. Maybe it'll be the same for you with Showcases.» Ash responded.
«You've participated in Pokémon Contests? Why didn't you ever tell me?» Serena asked him.
«Oh, well... it was a long time ago... think about it, in Hoenn the champion was Wallace and not Steven. And even though they were important for refining battle techniques and creating new ones, I never particularly shone... except for a tie.» Serena looked at him skeptically. «A tie? But usually if contests end in a tie, they go to overtime until there's a winner.» Ash nodded slightly, confirming his words. «That was a semi-official contest. It wasn't directly managed by the Pokémon Activities Commission. So different rules applied.» The boy rummaged in his backpack until he found a half-bow.
«Here it is. It's become a good luck charm. I wonder if Vera still keeps hers.» Serena looked at him with a puzzled look. «You never told me you competed against her.» Serena replied. «I thought you had told her.» Ash retorted.
«Your Pokémon are back in perfect health.»
The Nurse's voice brought them back to the day's objective. The four approached the counter. As soon as they arrived, Pikachu immediately jumped onto Ash.
«You can really see you're in good shape!» The boy commented, stroking his Pokémon.
«If you want to visit the Site, you'll need these.» The Nurse took five construction helmets from a corner of the counter. Four were standard size and one was slightly smaller.
«The Site is not far from here. At most a fifteen-minute walk. As soon as you enter, please wear them. Pass the straps under your chin and close them. At least that way they won't risk falling off.»
After saying goodbye to the Nurse, the group set off for the Site. Serena had set the coordinates on her Rotom's Smart Maps app and had started leading the group towards their destination.
They walked for a while, following the girl's directions.
«Are we sure we're on the right path? We've been walking for I don't know how long... wasn't it supposed to be fifteen hours?» Ash complained.
«Relax... we're practically there.» Serena reassured him.
After a little more walking, the four finally reached the location indicated on the map. It was a huge complex of buildings.
It seemed they had been partially destroyed by a violent explosion.
The buildings, not too long ago proud and majestic, now stood like dilapidated skeletons. The wind, which had meanwhile picked up, seemed to play a macabre melody as it passed through what were once windows. Around the building were large quantities of broken glass, most likely from the building's windows. The sunlight made them sparkle like small jewels.
The structure, located on a hill, overlooked the city. From that perspective, the smog cap enveloping the city was visible.
«Now that we're here, shall we bring the berries and start investigating, what do you say?» Carlos suggested. «Are you sure you want to go in? It doesn't seem very safe to me.» While the others had taken a few steps forward, Anita had stayed a few steps behind. «Don't you think if it were really dangerous, Nurse Joy would have simply told us not to approach? I don't think she'd want to take that responsibility, do you?» Carlos tried to reassure her.
The girl, though not very convinced, covered the short distance that separated her from the three.
Once again united, the four put on the helmets given to them by the Nurse. After adjusting his, Ash also took care of Pikachu's. Finally, the four could enter the first building.
«Well. I thought it was much worse.» Serena commented, giving a quick glance to the huge room. A room that was essentially empty.
Only some bookshelves leaning against the walls testified to the origin of that building. As soon as the four entered, the numerous Pokémon inside looked at them suspiciously. They didn't seem intent on attacking, but they seemed ready to do so.
They were Pokémon of various species, quite different from each other. There were some Watchog, Patrat, Lillipup, Mareep, Zigzagoon, Rattata, Purrloin, Lilligant, Petilil, Minccino, and Cinccino.
Ash opened the bag and scanned the area for bowls. As soon as he found them, he began to fill them. Shortly after, Serena, Anita, and Carlos started helping him.
After filling the bowls, the four moved away slowly. «Go ahead and eat, they're for you.» Ash sent to them.
As soon as the four moved away, the Pokémon started eating.
The same thing happened in the other buildings. Only the central building remained. The largest and also the most dilapidated one. Ash positioned himself in front of everyone, wanting to make sure he was the first to enter.
His sense of responsibility compelled him to make sure everything was in order.
«Wait. I have a bad feeling about this.» Ash signaled to the others to stop. «I don't like this place at all.»
«I think you can rest easy. If it were dangerous, the Nurse would never have allowed us to come here if it wasn't safe, don't you think?» Carlos replied.
«Ash has traveled far and wide across the world, I think we should listen to him.» Anita argued. «But what do you think could happen!» The boy took a few steps forward, surpassing everyone.
«You see... it's perfectly sa-» The boy was caught by a sturdy-looking net.
«Quick Pikachu, free him, break the net with Iron Tail!» The Pokémon jumped off the boy's shoulder and made a leap. With a powerful tail swipe, he quickly cut through the net.
The boy fell face down. He got up and dusted himself off. «Maybe you were right. But... what's a trap doing here?» The boy picked up the net. «There must be poachers around. That's not good news.» Ash commented.
«Do you think it's Team Rocket?» Serena asked.
«I don't think so. They would have used stronger nets... Pikachu-proof!» Ash replied ironically. «We can't joke around too much. Team Rocket or not, there are dangerous people around and we can't allow them to harm Pokémon.» he added.
«So... what do you propose we do?» Carlos asked him. «We should go and tell Inspector Jenny everything. Bring her this net and tell her what we've seen. So we can finally leave.» he suggested.
«Don't you think that's irresponsible? And if, while we're away, they come and manage to catch Pokémon?» Serena asked him. «That wouldn't be acceptable. You're right. But then what do you suggest we do?»
«Considering your talent for getting into trouble, maybe you should trigger the other traps. Maybe seeing that the traps have been tripped-» Ash suggested.
«No. I don't feel like falling flat on my face again. Once is more than enough.» he replied.
«Don't worry. Before, we had to free you quickly and acted on instinct. This time, we'll be more prepared.» the boy reassured.
«I ask you to be careful... his way of showing affection is rather... suffocating.» Serena tried not to laugh. She had experienced it firsthand and wasn't sure she wanted to repeat it.
«Dragonite! I need your help!» A draconic, bipedal Pokémon with orange scales materialized from the boy's Poké Ball. It was tall and muscular. As soon as Dragonite emerged, it lunged at Anita and Carlos, engulfing them in a tight hug. «Help! I can't breathe!» Carlos protested.
Anita shared the same sentiment. «You'll have to forgive her.» Ash apologized. «She's always eager to make new friends... but she doesn't always know her own strength.» Eventually, the Pokémon released its grip on the two.
«Well... now I feel safe. Between falling face-first and risking being crushed, I don't know which is worse!» Feeling the pressure from those around him, the boy quickly changed his mind.
«Alright! But I don't think I can really find the traps... it was just luck!» After a few steps, the boy was caught in the second trap.
Moments later, Dragonite came to his rescue. The Pokémon held the net with one arm and used its sharp claws to cut the rope holding the net, safely lowering Carlos to the ground.
«Thanks.» the three couldn't help but laugh. Carlos indeed had a natural talent for getting into trouble.
«Very good! It seems the traps have been triggered. We might get our hands on a rich haul!» A man in his forties checked his device, receiving several notifications.
«Forgive me for saying this, brother, but don't you think it's a mistake? We know these are nocturnal Pokémon! Could it be a false alarm? Perhaps some other Pokémon, maybe some reckless kid...» Another man of similar age replied. «If it's a kid, we'll teach them a lesson they won't forget... if it's a Pokémon, we don't discriminate. Any Pokémon can fetch us good money!» He spurred on the other.
«Then let's go, before we change our minds. You know the boss wouldn't be happy about that.» the two got out of the back of their van, and one of them sat next to the driver. The vehicle started after some insistence.
Meanwhile, at the Dreamyard, apparently Carlos had managed to trigger all the traps. The four prepared to leave when something caught Anita's attention.
«Did you hear that?» A low, distant sound began to spread. «I'm afraid it might be those who set these traps... what do we do?» She asked, rather intimidated.
«We'll confront them. We have no choice.» Ash replied. «Are you sure? What if they're armed? What if it's an ambush?» The girl was increasingly worried.
«Don't worry, it's not the first time we've dealt with poachers. Actually, there hasn't been a region we've traveled where we haven't dealt with poachers... Unfortunately.» Ash replied.
«And you've always faced them without worrying about the risks? That takes a lot of courage!» Anita congratulated him.
«I've never done anything alone. Alone, you accomplish little or nothing.» the boy responded.
Moments later, the noise stopped.
«They might have arrived.» Carlos commented.
The two had gotten out of their van. One of them had opened the sliding door of the vehicle and handed a net launcher to his colleague. «At least this way, we won't come back empty-handed.» he commented.
«And what do you expect to catch? Lillipup? That would really make the boss laugh in our faces!» His colleague retorted. «We'll see as we go. Do I need to remind you that if we're here, it's all your fault?» The other countered.
«What does it matter? We're here now, and we have to be careful or they might discover us.» the other replied, causing his colleague to sigh. Adjusting their weapons, they started heading towards one of the buildings.
The first of the two kicked the door, which opened without protest. The Pokémon inside remained calm. «Well, well, well... what beautiful Pokémon we have here!» One of the two commented, without triggering any reaction.
«I think we can proceed! Hypno, use Smokescreen!» One of the men released a Pokémon from his Poké Ball, unleashing a beam of white-blue light. In moments, it transformed into a creature with yellow skin and a humanoid appearance. Its neck was covered with thick white fur. It had a large nose, big pointed ears, and small eyes. It held a pendulum in one hand tied to a cord. As soon as it entered, it generated a large dark cloud from its mouth.
The two men donned masks to protect themselves from the gas.
In moments, the room filled with black smoke. The air became unbreathable. Several Pokémon began coughing and struggling to breathe. Several whistles were heard in rapid succession.
«Now it's your turn!» The other shouted, releasing his Poké Ball. «Mandibuzz, use Haze!» From the man's Poké Ball emerged a Pokémon resembling a raptor. Its plumage was brown. Its body featured several bones, such as on the crest or the lower part of the body. The bone on the lower body resembled a sort of jawbone. «Crah!» The Pokémon cried out before vigorously flapping its wings, quickly dispelling the cloud.
The two men smiled when they saw the sight before their eyes.
The Pokémon they considered most valuable, namely Lilligant, Minccino, and Cinccino, had been trapped in thick nets, while the other Pokémon remained impassive before the unfolding spectacle. Too frightened to act.
«Now use Psychic!» The Hypno's trainer ordered. Using its pendulum, it created a wave that lifted all the Pokémon trapped in the nets. «Now take them to the van!» Hypno followed the command, moving the Pokémon with its powers.
It led them and forcefully threw them into the back of the vehicle.
Using its powers, it locked the door. Now, for the Pokémon in the back, escape was truly impossible. Shortly after, the Pokémon returned to the two. «Great, now that we're sure we haven't made a wasted trip, we can think about why you brought us here.» The two left the building and headed towards the central building.
The four remained inside the building in silence. They knew strangers had arrived but knew nothing about them. It was the best idea not to endanger Carlos and Anita.
But now it seemed the plan had fallen apart. Heavy footsteps were approaching the building. «Here they come!» Serena commented.
«We'll handle them!» Ash offered. «You two stay safe!» Anita and Carlos moved away, entering a small room that originally served as a recreation room for workers.
«I'll stay with you. I know you handle yourself very well, but I don't want you taking unnecessary risks.» Serena explained.
«Alright, but be careful. We don't know what we're up against.» the boy reminded her.
Serena simply nodded. Time was running short. Footsteps drew closer.
A powerful kick smashed the door, and moments later, two men entered followed by a Hypno and a Mandibuzz. The two men sized up Ash and Serena, and the two did the same.
«And what are you doing here?» the boy asked. «We're maintenance...» one of the men began but stopped short after a few words. «Workers...» the other replied, trying to sound believable.
«And we were just making sure everything was in order.» added the other.
«And do you need rifles that shoot nets for that?» Ash asked, pretending to believe them. «What do you think?» one of the men replied. «Hypno! Use Shadow Ball!» he ordered. «And you, Mandibuzz! Use Feather Dance!» the second ordered.
«Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt! Dragonite, go with Twister!» Ash ordered.
Serena didn't have time to grab one of her Poké Balls from her bag. The Pokémon of the two trainers lay defeated on the ground.
Small sparks were still visible on Mandibuzz's body.
«Now all that's left is...» one started. «To run!» the other continued. «Not so fast!» Ash's tone grew serious. «Let's go! We
can't let them act undisturbed.» Ash invited Serena to follow him.
Meanwhile, the two men had retreated and reached their van. Moments later, the vehicle started moving.
«What do we do about Anita and Carlos?» Serena asked. «We'll chase after them now. Then, once we catch up, we'll contact them to get Officer Jenny here.» the boy replied. «Alright. I just hope they don't worry too much.» the girl added.
«Come on, let's go after them!» The two climbed onto Dragonite and followed the van. After a few turns on main roads, the van switched to a narrow country road.
At one point, the van stopped on a slightly sloping road.
«Good, now we can get off.» Dragonite landed, and Ash and Serena disembarked. The two men had gotten out of the van, and one of them had taken a bunch of keys.
As soon as the two got out of the vehicle, the van began to move backwards, making an eerie noise.
Slowly, the vehicle began to roll backward. Initially, no one seemed to notice.
«Dragonite! Go with Twister!» the boy ordered.
The Pokémon obeyed, launching a powerful gust of wind at the two men, who were thrown against a tree.
The impact of the two bodies against the large tree was very violent. Several Sewaddle specimens fell from the tree branches, hanging by their sticky saliva.
The Beetle Pokémon didn't hesitate to attack them with their String Shot, tying them to the trunk of the tree, making their escape impossible.
«The Van!» one of the two men shouted. «Idiot! You forgot to pull the brake!» he scolded. The van was moving faster and faster downhill.
«What are you standing around for? If you really care about those Pokémon, try to save them!» one of the two men complained.
With a feline leap, the boy tried to reach the van, which, with every passing moment, gained more speed. Pikachu had to hold on tight to avoid falling.
Struggling, the boy reached the vehicle and hung on to the window, which fortunately remained open, and managed to get in. Pikachu had settled on the two-seat bench next to the driver's seat.
«And how do you stop this thing?» The boy scratched his head. He had identified the main controls, but not the handbrake.
To complicate matters further, the van had hit a large rock and changed trajectory, risking falling into a ravine.
This only worsened the situation. The boy had no idea where the handbrake could be, and time was running out.
Fortunately, the boy had an epiphany. He thought of his mother's car. It also had three seats in the front.
And the handbrake was between the driver's seat and the door.
The boy's intuition proved correct, and he managed to stop the vehicle just in time. The van came to a halt with a jolt, but the worst danger was averted.
After a few moments, Ash and Pikachu got out of the van and were joined by Serena and Dragonite.
The boy tried in vain to open the sliding door. «Damn! It's locked!» the boy complained.
He also tried the rear doors without success. Seeing him struggle, Serena approached. «Everything okay?» she asked.
«Not at all. There are Pokémon locked in here, and this thing is locked.» the girl smiled at him.
«Well, I can give it a try.» The girl began frantically searching for something inside her bag until she found her hairpins.
«Let's hope this works.» she commented quietly, getting to work.
After several minutes, she finally succeeded in her endeavor, opening the two doors. The Pokémon inside the van remained still and silent. They seemed terribly frightened.
Ash and Serena noticed how, despite the door being open, none of the Pokémon seemed willing to leave.
«I can understand them to some extent.» Ash commented. «They've just been kidnapped by malicious people, and now they're afraid of humans.» Ash explained. «Maybe we should step back and let them figure it out on their own.» he suggested.
«And what if those guys come back? Or their colleagues?» Serena was rather doubtful. «Don't worry. We'll step back, but stay nearby. So, if things go south...» the boy explained.
Serena didn't reply, simply following him. To be more discreet, the boy recalled his Dragonite into its Poké Ball. «Thanks, you did a great job. Now rest.» he said.
Initially, the boy's intuition didn't seem to prove correct. No Pokémon seemed willing to leave the van.
For a good half hour, everything remained unchanged.
Serena took the opportunity to get in touch with Anita and Carlos. Anita answered the call almost immediately.
«Hello? Is everything okay?» Anita asked, sounding worried.
«More or less.» Serena replied. «Those people who arrived were poachers and kidnapped several Pokémon. We managed to stop them, but I'm not sure for how much longer...» Serena explained.
«But that's terrible! What can I do?» Anita asked, trying not to let her emotions take over.
«Ask Officer Jenny. I'll send you our location.» Serena replied, then ended the call to send the message.
More time passed, and finally, there were timid attempts by some Pokémon to escape. Cinccino. They looked around and, seeing no danger, descended.
Shortly after, they were joined by the Lilligant.
«See?» Ash remarked. «We just needed to be patient.» Serena simply nodded. The boy's intuition had proven correct.
Ash moved to take a step forward when he noticed the Pokémon, which had earlier left the van, were now returning with berries in their paws.
«Maybe they've decided this will be their new home.» Serena commented. «I don't know. Maybe they're just looking for a safe place to store their berries.» replied Ash. «Maybe we can help by bringing some too.» he added.
«Good idea.» replied the girl.
The two set off in search of berry trees, an easy task in the open countryside. They still had the sacks they used to transport berries to the construction site, so carrying them was not a problem.
It didn't take long before the sacks were completely full. Once done, they waited for the Pokémon, who had in turn brought berries, to move away. As soon as the group of Pokémon moved away, they approached the van with plenty of tasty berries.
They glanced inside the vehicle and noticed a strange creature leaning against the partition separating the driver's cabin from the cargo hold.
It was barely illuminated, but even just looking at it, something seemed wrong. There appeared to be a cut on the lower part of its body.
«It's injured.» Ash managed to comment before being hit squarely in the chest by a purplish-colored ball. The blow was strong enough to make him step back.
«We just want to help you!» Serena tried to convince it, but without success. Fortunately, Pikachu jumped from Ash's shoulder in time, neutralizing the second attack with a powerful Iron Tail.
«Trying to convince it like this is useless.» Serena commented. «It's injured and attacks instinctively. Maybe I know who can help us.» The girl reached for one of her Poké Balls.
«Sylveon! I need your help!» As soon as it emerged from the Poké Ball, Sylveon immediately approached its Trainer.
«There's an injured Pokémon inside that van. It's scared and attacking. Maybe you can calm it down.» she explained. «Veon!» the Pokémon responded, approaching the vehicle and getting on board.
It tried to appear as natural as possible. That Pokémon probably had never encountered a Sylveon in its life, so it knew it looked like a stranger. Despite its fears, it approached the injured creature without being attacked.
It approached gently. As soon as it saw its wound, it shivered.
«Veon! Eon! Sy!» (You're hurt! Come with me! My Trainer can help you!) «Gant? Li!» (Trainer? I'm afraid of people! They're mean!) «Eon! Eonnn!» (I thought so too, but she's a special girl!) «Lill! Li!» (Alright! But if you're wrong, you'll regret it!)
The Pokémon tried to get up and take a step, but immediately fell. Exhausted, right on its wound. «GAAANT!» it cried out in pain. Sylveon tried to wrap its torso with its feelers and lift it, but without success.
Without saying anything, it jumped off the van and ran towards Serena, pulling her towards it. «I understand!» the girl replied. «I'm coming right away.» She jumped on the van and saw the Pokémon lying on the ground, in pain.
Ash was not far away, half hidden to avoid further frightening the injured Pokémon.
Understanding the situation, the girl also tried to lift the Pokémon, but without success. «I can't do it alone, I need help, but don't worry. He's good too!» she said, stepping out of the van. «Syll!» the Pokémon translated.
A few moments later, avoiding the large pile of berries, Ash also entered. Lifting it together was definitely easier and less risky.
As soon as they brought it out of the van, they helped it to stand.
It wasn't easy for her at all. The pain was immense. But now she was in the sunlight. She gathered her last energies. The flower on her head lit up orange.
«Hey! That's Synthesis!» Ash commented. «Synthesis?» Serena asked, not having heard of it before. «Synthesis is a move many Grass-type Pokémon know. They use it when tired or injured to recover energy.» he explained.
The girl didn't respond, captivated by how the Pokémon's nasty wound had healed.
A few moments later, the Pokémon headed towards the van, taking some berries from inside. Then, very timidly, it approached the girl and her Sylveon.
«Are these for us?» the girl asked with a smile. «Gant!» the Pokémon replied. «You're really kind.» Serena praised.
After a few moments, the Pokémon moved away from the two.
Not for long. Slowly, in front of them, numerous Cinccino, some Minccino, Lilligant, and Petilil appeared. Many more than those who had been kidnapped.
The Pokémon seemed to be talking to the group of Pokémon that had gathered.
After a few moments, the Pokémon moved away from the group and approached the Kalos native. It touched her gently with one of its leaf-like arms.
«Do you want to come with me?» the girl asked. The Pokémon nodded slightly. Serena took an empty Poké Ball from her bag, another one Professor Sycamore had given her at the beginning of her journey, and handed it to the Pokémon.
It gently touched the opening button, being absorbed into a beam of light.
The Poké Ball shook once, then twice, then three times. On the fourth, it emitted a small noise, confirming the successful capture. The girl bent down to pick up the Poké Ball. «Hooray! Now I have a new friend!» she cheered. «And now come out! Lilligant!» The girl released her new friend from the Poké Ball.
Before they could exchange pleasantries, a noise immediately startled the present Pokémon, including Lilligant, who hid behind her Trainer.
A few moments later, four police cars passed by. All identical, anonymous brown sedans. As soon as the dust they raised settled, Ash and Serena, followed by their Pokémon, retraced the stretch of road that had led them there. Perhaps due to searching for those berries, or perhaps because the road was now uphill, the journey was quite tiring.
Upon reaching their destination, they not only met the four policewomen, who had just freed the two poachers from the Millibay, only to arrest them, listing the various charges against them, but with them were also Anita and Carlos.
«I see you're alright.» Carlos began. «Anita was very worried about you.» he added, leaving the brunette quite embarrassed. «You're the only ones who believe in me, and I wouldn't want to lose you for any reason.» the girl explained.
Ash and Serena smiled, while the two poachers were locked in the back of the sedan, another policewoman filming the arrest. «If you want, we can give you a lift to the Pokémon Center in Striaton City.» one of the policewomen offered. «After what you've done, you deserve it.» she added.

«Ash and Serena didn't need to be told twice. Once they reached the Pokémon Center, they dropped off the boys and continued towards the police station.
Just enough time to check their Pokémon, the news came on the television. Among various news of varying importance, one truly stood out.
«Two poachers, members of a notorious criminal gang specializing in the illegal trade of rare Pokémon, were arrested today thanks to World Champion Ash Ketchum and renowned Kalos performer Serena Gabena. They haven't made any statements yet; we hope to hear from them soon, from the Levantopoli Police Station.» the announcement read. The screen showed a journalist in her forties, standing in front of the police station. «According to reports, the poachers attempted to abduct Pokémon from the Dreamyard, not far from Levantopoli. We have no details on the numbers, as by the time officers arrived, the Pokémon had fled the scene. They were heading to their hideout but were intercepted by Ash and Serena, who, with the help of their Pokémon, managed to stop them, allowing the police to make the arrest.» explained the woman.
«According to our sources, they should now be at the Levantopoli Pokémon Center. We may hear from them soon and learn their side of the story.» The report ended, and another began.
«It seems there's no way to leave Levantopoli anytime soon!» Carlos commented ironically. «We still haven't figured out what happened to Professor Fennel. Maybe...» Anita began to add.
«Let me think.» Serena interrupted her. «She said she was helped by someone with a Hypno. One of the poachers arrested had a Hypno...» she explained.
«So you think their Pokémon hypnotized her and made her believe things happened differently...» Carlos responded. «Exactly.» the Kalos native replied. «And they probably didn't expect to find us, so instead of trying to hypnotize us, they attacked.» she added.
«Yeah.» Anita was scanning her Pokédex entries. «Hypno is known for its psychic powers. I wonder if there's a way to counteract it.» she asked, looking rather concerned.
«Sorry to interrupt, but now it's all clear.» Nurse Joy interrupted them. «If what you're saying is true, helping Fennel might be easier than it seems.» she hinted. «Now that I remember, her Munna emitted black smoke, as if Fennel was living a nightmare.» she explained. «Can you stay here tomorrow as well?» she asked. «You could accompany her to the Dreamyard, and maybe that could help her remember.»
The four just smiled. Staying in town for an extra day wasn't a problem for them. Especially after that interview...
And it was almost dinner time, so leaving would have been postponed anyway.
After dinner, someone rang the Pokémon Center's doorbell. It wasn't unusual; Pokémon Centers were open until 11 PM and reopened at 7 AM the next day.
The nurse opened the door with a button, and in walked a man and a woman. The man, around fifty, was rather stout and carried a large camera with a microphone. The woman was the same one who had conducted the news broadcast.
«Good evening!» they greeted each other. «Here you are!» the woman began. «Wasn't hard to find you...» she added. «Do I need to remind you why we're here?» the cameraman urged her. The woman whispered something in a low voice, inaudible to anyone else.
«If you'd like, I can take you to a quieter place.» Nurse Joy offered.
«Here is fine!» the man replied, sounding annoyed. It was clear he wanted to spend his time elsewhere.
He turned on the camera and aimed it at the woman, who had meanwhile sat between Ash and Serena.
«And here we are, from the Levantopoli Pokémon Center, with the two heroes who facilitated the arrest of dangerous poachers, Ash from Pallet Town and Serena from Vaniville Town. The World's Strongest Trainer and one of the most famous Performers and Coordinators in the world.» the woman said, causing the girl to feel slightly embarrassed.
«Tell us how it went, how did you manage to get them arrested?» the woman asked. «We arrived at the Pokémon Center in Levantopoli, and Nurse Joy asked us if we could go to the Dreamyard to bring berries to the Pokémon living there, as the person who usually did it was unavailable.» the boy began. «We don't know what happened to her, but from Nurse Joy's words, it seemed she didn't know what had happened at the Dreamyard.» Serena added. «We went to the Dreamyard with some of our friends and brought berries to the Pokémon. While we were there, our friend noticed something was wrong. And indeed, shortly after, they arrived at the same building where we were, and...» The woman made a small gesture with her hand to interrupt him. «So you weren't alone?» the woman asked. «Exactly.» Serena replied. «Our friends Anita and Carlos alerted the authorities. We just followed them.» she added. «Then, I suppose there was a fight and you defeated them and...» the woman cut in. «Actually, it was wild Pokémon who captured them.» the boy replied.
Not understanding his statement, the woman swiftly changed the topic.
«As soon as the news came out, there was a statement from Team Plasma. In short, on one hand, they congratulate you for your gesture, but on the other hand, they accuse you of being hypocritical. After all, you're Trainers and they believe you enslave Pokémon.» the woman recounted.
«We didn't do it for that.» the boy replied. «We are Trainers, and as such, we care about the well-being of Pokémon more than anyone else. It doesn't matter if they are wild or if they are ours. I would also have something to say to Team Plasma. If you were fighting against those who truly exploit Pokémon for profit, like poachers, I would be the first to fight with you. But you're looking at it from the wrong side.» he concluded.
With these words, the interview ended, and just as they had arrived, the cameraman and journalist left.
It was almost time to go to sleep. Tomorrow they would have to wake up early. They would probably meet Fennel, and they had already promised to try to help her.
The next day, the four woke up early, despite being rather tired from the day before. After breakfast, the four sat on the benches designated for Trainers while they waited for Fennel to arrive.
The forecast turned out to be correct.
The woman with long dark blue hair arrived at the Pokémon Center, accompanied by her Munna, which, like the day before, was surrounded by dark smoke.
The woman approached Nurse Joy's counter to have her Pokémon checked. Nurse Joy decided to play along.
«I would exclude the fact that she ate nightmares. If what you told me happened from this morning, it's more likely she's worried about something or someone.» Nurse Joy explained.
«So you're the kids who saved those Pokémon from the poachers? I would like to congratulate you; Unova really needs people like you.» the woman congratulated them.
«Oh, excuse me. I haven't introduced myself. My name is Fennel. I'm a scientist who worked at the Dreamyard. Before something happened that I don't remember right now. We were conducting some experiments to obtain clean energy from Munna and Musharna's Dream Smoke. While they were doing some studies, there was a gigantic explosion.
«Me and my colleagues were rescued by a guy who trained a Hypno. Besides that, I don't remember anything else.» she explained.
«Now excuse me, but I have to go. Work is calling!» The woman, escorted by her Munna, tried to leave the Pokémon Center. «Excuse me... Fennel... Would you mind letting the kids visit the Dreamyard?» Nurse Joy asked. «But is it safe?» the woman inquired. «Don't worry, I can lend them helmets so they'll be safe.» Nurse Joy reassured, returning the helmets they borrowed the day before to the four.
«If you would follow me...» the woman invited. The four followed her to the Dreamyard, using their Rotom Phones' maps. After a long walk, the group arrived at the Dreamyard.
«I wonder why Joy wanted you to accompany me to the ruins of the Dreamyard... I wonder why.» the woman pondered as she observed the now dilapidated buildings.
«They're really in bad shape.» the woman commented, surprised. «The explosion was very violent, but I didn't think it caused so much damage.» she added shortly after.
After exploring various buildings, they finally reached the central building, where everything had begun.
The woman's Munna began to cry louder and louder. It almost seemed like she was crying.
«Don't worry, everything's alright.» the woman tried to reassure the Pokémon. «You know, we became friends a long time ago, right here, at the Dreamyard. That's why she's so attached to this place.» she explained. «I think she's really upset about the condition it's in now.» she added.
The Pokémon continued to lament, a sad and desperate cry.
A few moments later, a strange round-shaped shadow appeared from a side entrance. Pikachu instinctively jumped from Ash's shoulder into a defensive position, in case it was necessary.
The strange figure approached. «Stay calm!» the woman reassured them. «It's Musharna. The evolution of Munna. Maybe hearing my little one, she got worried and wanted to know how she was.» she explained.
Anita took out her Rotom Phone and looked up Musharna in the Pokédex app. «Musharna, the Drowsing Pokémon. Psychic type. Female specimen. It can manifest dreams eaten. The smoke it emits from its forehead takes the form of what appears in the dream. Known moves: Psychic, Shadow Ball, Hypnosis, Dream Eater.»
The Pokémon's appearance was quite similar to Munna's. It also resembled a sort of tapir, with pink and purple colors. Its eyes were closed, and it assumed a crouched position. It seemed to be levitating in the air, emitting no sound. It approached the woman silently. It lightly touched her with its head. Suddenly, the smoke emitted by Musharna also turned dark.
The woman had to step back and throw the dark energy away.
Now the woman was bent over in a strange posture, as if she had been deprived of all her energy. Fortunately, after a few
moments, she recovered.
«And who are you... why are we here?» she asked. Ash and the others told her everything they knew, from their first visit to the Dreamyard to the poachers' arrest, with the woman listening carefully to every word.
«So the person I thought saved me... actually asked his Pokémon to keep me away?» The four made a small affirmative gesture.
«I don't know how to thank you, really. Thank you too, Musharna! But I still need your help. There are other people in this condition. We have no time to waste.»