Chapter 3

After leaving the Pokémon Center, Cheren wandered off to explore Accumula Town, mumbling something about finding the local Trainer School. Meanwhile, Hilda had other plans.

"I'm going to get started with the BW Agency," she said, holding Gigi close. "There's a filming session nearby, and they're expecting me."

The BW Agency was a family-owned company, run by our parents, specializing in providing Pokémon for various entertainment industries. Whether it was dramas, films, ads, or even plays, the agency had a Pokémon for every role. Recently, the business expanded to include printing services as well. When Hilda became a Trainer, our mom passed the president's role to her, believing she was ready for the responsibility. As for me, I had my sights set on the Pokémon League—running a business wasn't my style.

I had planned to spend the afternoon training my Pokémon, but Wott had other ideas. My little Oshawott was captivated by the sight of Gigi practicing for a film scene, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. Before I could call him back, Hilda turned to me with a knowing smile.

"Want to help out?" she asked.

I sighed, realizing I wasn't going to win this one. "Fine," I said, crossing my arms. "What do I need to do?"

The movie crew arrived soon after, bustling with energy as they set up for the shoot. The director, a sharp-eyed man in a crisp jacket, greeted us warmly and explained that Gigi would be the star of the scene. Everything seemed ready for a smooth rehearsal—until chaos broke out.

As the scene was about to start, several crew members suddenly collapsed. The set was in disarray, with the rest of the staff panicking as they checked on the fallen.

"What happened?" Hilda demanded, rushing over.

"We found them like this just as we were about to start filming again!" the director said, his voice shaking. "They were fine a moment ago!"

The tension in the air was palpable, and I knew we had to figure out what was going on before things got worse. I stepped forward, calling Munna to my side. "Alright, Munna. Help me out again."

Hilda raised a brow. "You're doing that thing again?"

"It works," I replied, as Munna floated over and bit my head, using her psychic powers to blank out my overthinking. With my mind clear, the details around us started to fall into place like pieces of a puzzle.

"Five people have been attacked," I muttered, piecing the clues together. "First, they were all carrying metallic equipment—the camera, the mic, and the duralumin case."

"Now that you mention it…" Hilda murmured, glancing at the fallen crew members.

"Second, there's a faint burnt smell in the air," I continued. "Third, the five victims are arranged in a circle."

"A circle? Why does that matter?" Hilda asked, furrowing her brow.

"And lastly," I said, my voice growing more certain, "I saw something shine right before we noticed the attacks."

I turned to Hilda, determination in my voice. "Have Gigi use Ember on that thread over there—it's glowing faintly in the sunlight."

Hilda hesitated but trusted me. "Alright, Gigi, Ember!"

Gigi released a small burst of fire toward the shimmering thread. As the flames struck, the thread began to burn, revealing an intricate network of sticky, sparking strands. The burnt smell intensified as the web sizzled and crackled.

"That's not an ordinary thread," I said, staring at the glowing lines. "It's Electroweb."

"Electroweb?" Hilda echoed, her eyes widening. "You mean—"

I quickly grabbed a pair of special gloves from the nearby equipment box—thick, insulated gloves meant for handling live wires. "Braviary, I need you!" I called, pointing upward.

With a loud cry, Braviary swooped down and grabbed onto me with his talons, lifting me into the air. The sticky, sparking threads stretched across the set shimmered in the sunlight. As we rose higher, I grabbed onto one of the thicker strands and gave it a firm tug.

The web shuddered, and from its center, a large yellow-and-purple Pokémon emerged. Its four legs moved with precision as its body glowed faintly with stored electricity.

"A Galvantula!" I called out, my voice echoing through the set.

Hilda gasped from below. "So that's it! Those five victims fell into its trap!"

The Galvantula hissed, its eyes locking onto me as it crawled down the web. Sparks danced along the strands, the air buzzing with static. This was no ordinary encounter—it was a deliberate defense of its territory.

"Wott, it's time for battle!" I shouted as Braviary gently lowered me back to the ground. Oshawott leaped into action, his eyes blazing with determination.

"Wott, use Razor Shell!" I commanded.

The little Water-type charged forward, his shell glowing as he slashed at the threads and struck Galvantula. The spider Pokémon reeled back but retaliated with a powerful Electro Ball. Wott narrowly dodged, the glowing sphere colliding with the set's backdrop and sending a shower of sparks flying.

The battle was intense, but Wott kept fighting with incredible resolve. After dodging another Electro Ball, Wott landed a final Aqua Jet that weakened the Galvantula significantly. I reached for a Poké Ball and threw it with all my might.

The ball struck Galvantula, encapsulating it in a bright flash of light. It wobbled once, twice, and then clicked shut. I held my breath, waiting for the result. When the ball stayed still, my heart soared.

"I caught it!" I exclaimed, holding the ball triumphantly.

Hilda crossed her arms, giving me a tired but amused smile. "Nice job, Hilbert. But, uh… you might want to look around."

I turned, my excitement fading as I saw the aftermath. The equipment scattered beneath the webs—cameras, lights, and mics—was scorched beyond repair. The painted scenery, once vibrant and full of life, was burnt to a crisp. The director and crew stood in stunned silence, their faces pale with shock.

Hilda groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Oh no… The equipment, the set, everything is ruined."

The director turned to us, his expression a mix of panic and frustration. "This is a disaster! Filming is canceled, and someone has to pay for all this damage!"

My heart sank. I looked at Hilda, who sighed heavily. "Guess this is on us," she said. "The BW Agency will cover the costs."

I nodded reluctantly. "Yeah, it's only fair. This was our client, after all."

As the crew began assessing the damage, I glanced at Wott and the Poké Ball in my hand. Galvantula was now part of my team, but the cost of the battle weighed on me heavily.

Hilda crossed her arms, giving me a wry smile. "Well, at least you caught it. But next time, let's figure out how to save the day without burning everything down, okay?"

I chuckled nervously. "Yeah… good idea."

The next day, as the sun climbed high over Accumula Town, a murmur spread through the streets. People were gathering in the plaza, and their voices carried whispers of something unusual. Hilda and I exchanged curious looks before heading over to investigate. Cheren was already there, standing with his arms crossed as he observed a stage being set up in the middle of the square.

"What's going on?" I asked as we caught up to him.

Cheren shrugged, his sharp eyes fixed on the stage. "Not sure. But it looks like we're about to find out."

The square grew silent as a group of people in matching uniforms marched onto the stage, their presence commanding attention. At the center of them stood a tall man with long, flowing green hair. His regal demeanor and piercing gaze made it impossible to look away. He stepped forward, his voice carrying over the gathered crowd.

"My name is Ghetsis," he began. "I am here representing Team Plasma. Today, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to talk to you about Pokémon Liberation."

The crowd murmured in confusion, the term unfamiliar and unsettling.

"Huh?" "What's he talking about?" "Pokémon Liberation?"

Ghetsis raised his hand, silencing the whispers. "I'm sure most of you believe that we humans and Pokémon are partners that have come to live together because we want and need each other. However… Is that really the truth? Have you ever considered that perhaps we humans… only assume that this is the truth? Pokémon are subject to the selfish commands of Trainers. They get pushed around when they are our 'partners' at work. Can anyone say with confidence that there is no truth in what I'm saying?"

The crowd's unease deepened. People exchanged nervous glances, some nodding reluctantly, others shaking their heads in disbelief.

"Yikes!" "I don't know…" "No way…"

Ghetsis continued, his voice calm yet powerful. "Now, ladies and gentlemen, Pokémon are different from humans. They are living beings that contain unknown potential. They are living beings from whom we humans have much to learn. Tell me, what is our responsibility toward these wonderful beings called Pokémon?"

A man in the crowd hesitated, then called out, "Liberation?"

Ghetsis smiled, as though pleased by the response. "That's right! We must liberate the Pokémon! Then, and only then, will humans and Pokémon truly be equals. Everyone, I end my words here today by imploring you to consider the relationship between people and Pokémon… and the correct way to proceed. We sincerely appreciate your attention."

With those words, Ghetsis and the uniformed people—his so-called Team Plasma—turned and left the stage in perfect formation, disappearing down the road as quickly as they had arrived. The crowd was left in stunned silence.

"That's ridiculous, right?" Cheren muttered, breaking the quiet. "I mean, come on. Liberation? What does that even mean?"

"Ridiculous or not," Hilda said quietly, her brows furrowed, "some people are listening to him."

We turned, startled to see people in the crowd reacting. A young boy tugged at his mother's sleeve, holding a Petilil close to his chest.

"Mom," he said hesitantly, "should I let go of this Petilil?"

His mother looked alarmed. "What are you saying? You and Petilil are always getting along well, right? You two always eat and sleep together."

Nearby, an old man was sobbing openly. "What should I do?" he cried. "Throughout my life, I have lived together with dozens of Pokémon… but if I had known that I was forcing them to feel bad…"

The whispers in the crowd grew louder, and to our shock, people began releasing their Pokémon. One by one, Poké Balls clicked open, and Pokémon were set free into the wild. The sight of it was heartbreaking. Confused Pokémon hesitated, some turning back to their Trainers with pleading eyes, but the Trainers stepped away, their resolve shaken by Ghetsis's words.

"This is… insane," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Hilda's fists clenched at her sides. "We have to stop this."

Cheren shook his head, his expression dark. "How? They're choosing to let their Pokémon go."

We stood frozen, helpless as more and more Pokémon were released into the wild. Ghetsis's speech had planted a seed of doubt, and it was growing faster than any of us could have imagined.

I couldn't just stand there and watch. Spotting a man who had just released his Ducklett, I rushed over to him, my voice trembling with frustration. "Wait! How long have you been with Ducklett?"

The man turned, surprised by my question. "Ten years," he admitted after a pause, his eyes downcast.

"Ten years?" I repeated, shocked. "And you're just going to release it because of that speech? After everything you've been through together?"

The man sighed, his shoulders slumping. "This is what's best for Ducklett," he said, his voice heavy with doubt but laced with forced conviction. "If what that man said is true… I don't want to keep it trapped."

Nearby, Hilda was talking to a woman clutching an empty Poké Ball. "What about your Whimsicott?" Hilda asked, her tone desperate. "How can you let it go after all this time?"

The woman hesitated, her hands shaking. "I don't know what Whimsicott really thinks of me," she admitted, tears welling in her eyes. "If it feels burdened by me… maybe I should just let it go."

Hilda and I exchanged a look of disbelief. My chest tightened with frustration and sadness as I watched more Pokémon being released into the wild.

"This doesn't make any sense," I muttered, clenching my fists. "I don't get their logic. They're saying it's for the Pokémon, but how is this the best for them?"

I glanced down at the Poké Ball on my belt that contained Galvantula. A realization hit me like a jolt of electricity. Galvantula… it had been released recently too. Was this because of people like Team Plasma? Had it been abandoned because someone thought it was better off without them?

I felt my anger boiling over. "We have to stop people like that man from giving speeches like this. It's not right for the Pokémon!"

Hilda nodded, her determination matching mine. "Then let's go. We need to do something."

As we turned to leave, a soft yet clear voice stopped us in our tracks.

"Your Pokémon… Just now, it was saying…"

We froze and turned toward the source of the voice. Standing in front of us was a boy with soft green hair, his expression calm but piercing. His words hung in the air like a challenge, their meaning impossible to ignore.

Here is a new chapter, and in this chapter, you can see that we have the capture of Galvantula and the appearance of Team Plasma. I hope you like this chapter.