The Pokémon Center in Eterna City was massive—easily the largest I'd seen so far. The lobby itself was huge, more something I'd expect from a mall than a clinic, though with how many rooms this place had for trainers it seemed more like some kind of fancy hotel. I wasn't complaining, though. After everything that happened with those smugglers, this place was a welcome sight.

I leaned against the counter, tapping my fingers lightly on the smooth surface as Nurse Joy approached holding a tray with PokéBalls on it. She had that familiar cheery smile, which, after my first experience, felt like it constantly hid something much more... sinister. I shook my head. 'Nope, stop thinking like that, Rusk. This one hasn't shown any signs of sadistic tendencies—yet.'

"Your Pokémon are all in excellent health!" she said brightly, handing over the Poké Balls. "You've taken great care of them."

I gave a polite nod, hiding my shudder as I accepted them. "Thanks, uh... that's good to hear."

She smiled wider—seriously, how did they all have the same damn smile?—and waved me off. "Don't hesitate to come back if you need anything!"

Nodding as I barely stopped myself from rubbing the spot where that other Nurse Joy had oh-so-cheerfully reset my dislocated nose. I could still hear the giggle if I thought too hard about it. Shuddering again slightly, I decided it was best to get out of here before any new injuries could be found. The doors slid open smoothly as I stepped out of the Pokémon Center, and the fresh air of Eterna City hit me in the face.

It was a welcome change from the hospital like waiting room atmosphere inside the center. Eterna City was huge, definitely the largest place I'd been so far, not that I've been to many in this world. The mix of old stone buildings and modern Pokémon facilities gave it a rustic but lively feel. Trainers and locals wandered by, chatting, or heading to the various shops and parks dotted around the streets. It felt... peaceful, like a larger more eccentric version of my home town…

I took a deep breath, letting myself relax. After everything that had happened with the smugglers, I was ready for a break. I still had a whole day to kill before meeting up with Dr. Silvers tomorrow, as according to Rowan after I told him about what happened in the cave, he's running a bit late and won't arrive until then as he's helping solve an issue in Mt Coronet. So, I was basically free to wander and do whatever I wanted today.

For once, no one was chasing me down, no battles needed to be fought, and no mysteries had to be solved—at least not until tomorrow… I better not have jinxed myself just then.

I started walking down one of the side streets, taking in the different sights and smells. Cafés spilled onto the sidewalks with trainers chatting over drinks as their Pokémon ran around, shops displayed all sorts of gear in their windows: from Poké Balls to strange-looking trinkets I couldn't even begin to guess the purpose of (I'm not joking this stuff looked completely unlike anything I've ever seen). I passed a group of kids trading berries like they were priceless treasures, their Pokémon very similar to themselves watching in awe and glee as their trainers claimed the berries they liked.

I couldn't help but smile at the scene. It reminded me of something out of a postcard—like this was the part of the Pokémon world you didn't see on TV, where people and Pokémon just... lived.

Eventually, I found myself wandering toward the Eterna Gym, but as soon as I saw the closed sign on the door, I stopped in my tracks. Of course, the Gym Leader was off dealing with the forest situation. I had to respect that, but I couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. A good gym battle would've been a great way to blow off steam… am I becoming a battle junkie? Nah its just the norm in this world.

"Well, that's a bust," I muttered to myself, turning away from the closed Gym. "What now?

With the Gym out of the picture, I kept walking. Maybe I could find a good spot to train, or at least somewhere to relax and think things over. Tomorrow's mission with Dr. Silvers hung in the back of my mind, and I couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy about it. Something was wrong in that forest—something big enough to drive Pokémon out of their usual habitats and into dangerous territory. I didn't know what we'd find, but it wasn't going to be pretty.

Pushing those thoughts aside, I let my feet carry me toward the heart of the city. Eterna's famous statue of Dialga and Palkia wasn't too far off, and I figured I'd take a look while I was here. The path leading to it was lined with tall, old trees, their branches creating a canopy overhead. It felt almost like walking through a park, the city's noise fading to a quiet hum in the background.

When I finally reached the statue, I wasn't surprised by how worn down it was, though I was a bit annoyed by the fact the plaque was broken. Time, weather and potentially Cyrus had left their mark, but despite that, the combined forms of Dialga and Palkia were still recognizable. The statue wasn't just some abstract blur; you could make out Dialga's regal stance and Palkia's powerful arms, all melded together as if they were one. It was a strange combination of the two, like they were meant to coexist despite being so different.

I stood there for a moment, thinking back to my old world. Back there, Dialga and Palkia were just myths—legends from a video game, creatures people talked about but knew were fake. And yet, here they were, or at least, a statue of them. It was hard to wrap my head around this stuff sometimes, seeing these creatures come to life. I'd spent years thinking of them as nothing more than fantasy, but now? Now they were a part of my reality.

Time and space... or more technically two thirds of the creation trio. It made me wonder—was it one of them that had something to do with me being here? Or was it something else entirely? Either way, it was strange to see them in a combined form like this.

I took a step back, letting my eyes wander over the statue one last time before turning away. The weight of what tomorrow could bring started to settle in again, but—

"The creation of Dialga, the giver of time..."

I blinked, turning toward the voice. Standing a few feet away, her gaze fixed on the plaques, was a woman with long blonde hair and an air of calm authority. Her voice was smooth, carrying a quiet confidence that immediately caught my attention.

"In laughter, there is tears... And likewise, it is with time. The same time flows on. For it is the blessing of Dialga," she continued, her voice flowing effortlessly. As she shifted her gaze to the second plaque, I realized she wasn't just reading the plaques—she was filling in the missing pieces.

"The birth of Palkia, the creator of parallel dimensions... Alive, yet not alive... Everything drifts in space... To arrive in the same universe. It is the blessing of Palkia."

She paused for a moment, then added, "The plaques have been worn down for years, but I spent a long time researching the missing parts. It wasn't easy, but I wanted to restore what was lost." Her expression softened as she glanced back at me, a small smile playing at her lips. "There's something about these legends... I've always felt connected to them."

I swallowed, trying to process everything. Cynthia. This was Cynthia—Sinnoh's Champion—just casually standing there, filling in the gaps of ancient legends like it was no big deal. She looked younger than I'd imagined, probably in her twenties, but had that calm confidence I'd always heard about. My brain was spinning, but somehow, I managed to nod.

"Yeah," I said, probably sounding way more awkward than I meant to. "That's... really impressive."

Her smile widened just a bit. "It took a lot of digging, but it was worth it. These myths hold a lot of power and history, and I think it's important to remember them fully."

I was still reeling from the fact that I was talking to Cynthia when, without really thinking, I blurted, "It's crazy how much history gets lost over time. Makes you wonder what's been forgotten, you know? Like, how much do we really know about Sinnoh's past?"

She turned to me, her eyes lighting up in a way I hadn't expected. It was like I'd hit some kind of button. "Exactly! That's what fascinates me the most," she said, her voice gaining a bit more energy. "There's so much we don't know about the ancient world, especially when it comes to the Hisui region."

"The... Hisui region?" I echoed, the name completely unfamiliar to me.

Cynthia smiled, clearly realizing she had just stumbled into a topic she could talk about for hours. "Yes, the Hisui region. It's the ancient name for what we now call Sinnoh. Back then, the world was very different—wild, untamed, and incredibly dangerous with humans just starting to coexist with Pokémon and all. The legends we know today had their origins in that era."

I blinked, trying to wrap my head around this. Hisui? How had I never heard of this before? Wait… wasn't there supposed to be another game coming out based on ancient Sinnoh? Is that why?

Cynthia continued, her excitement barely contained now. "The region was dangerous, with Pokémon acting more like wild animals than partners. People relied on skill and ingenuity to survive, and the relationship between humans and Pokémon was just beginning to take shape. Hisui was a world of exploration and discovery."

Her words painted a picture of a world I'd never imagined. It sounded like something out of a storybook, but from the way she spoke, it was clear she was deeply invested in this history, though if memory serves me somewhat right, Cynthia both in the game and anime was very into the lore of her region.

"So, Hisui was... ancient Sinnoh?" I asked, still trying to process all this new information.

Cynthia nodded. "Exactly. It's where everything we know about Sinnoh's myths and legends originated. The people of that time were the first to encounter Pokémon like Dialga, Palkia, and Arceus. They didn't have the tools or knowledge we have now, but they were the first to try and understand these creatures. At least in this region."

I was starting to wrap my head around it, though the idea of ancient Sinnoh—or Hisui—was still kind of blowing my mind. But before I could say anything else, Cynthia's expression shifted a bit, like she'd just remembered something.

"Not only were the legends of Dialga and Palkia from that time," she added, "but a lot of Pokémon we know today had different forms back then. The records we've found show that some Pokémon had completely unique traits—forms that no longer exist today."

I raised an eyebrow. "Wait, like... Pokémon that looked totally different?"

Cynthia nodded. "Exactly. Some Pokémon evolved differently depending on their environment. For example, there are records of Pokémon like Braviary and Growlithe that looked and behaved very differently in the Hisui region compared to what we see today. It's as if time and the world shaped them into entirely new versions of themselves."

"Whoa." I hadn't thought about that. "So, there are ancient forms of Pokémon just... lost to time?"

"Yes," she said, her voice filled with the same passion as before. "It's incredible to think that there are Pokémon whose forms have changed so drastically. Even Zorua and Zoroark, for instance—records suggest they were once Ghost-types, adapted to the harsh life in Hisui's wilderness."

I let out a low whistle. "That's... kind of like Darwin's theory of evolution." The words came out before I could stop myself.

Cynthia tilted her head slightly, intrigued. "Darwin? I don't think I've heard of him. Is he from another region?"

I nodded, trying to sound casual. "Yeah, Darwin was a scholar from my home region. He had this theory that species evolve over time by adapting to their environments. Basically, the ones that are best suited to survive pass on their traits to the next generation, and over time, those traits become more common. It's called natural selection."

Cynthia's eyes lit up with curiosity. "We've had similar concepts in our studies of Pokémon, especially when it comes to ancient forms. But it's fascinating to hear it framed like that—natural selection, adapting to survive. It sounds a lot like what happened with Pokémon in ancient Hisui."

I relaxed a little, feeling like I'd explained it well enough. "Yeah, it's pretty much the same idea. Over time, species develop new traits to better handle whatever's thrown at them."

Her eyes brightened, clearly intrigued by the comparison. "It's interesting how scholars from different places come to similar conclusions, even when studying entirely different things."

She paused for a moment, as if something had just occurred to her. "Oh, I'm sorry, I haven't even introduced myself." She smiled warmly, extending a hand. "Cynthia Shirona."

I blinked, a little surprised that she hadn't done that already, given her reputation. "Rusk, Rusk Matton" I replied, taking her hand. "Nice to meet you... officially."

I shook her hand, feeling a little more relaxed now that the formalities were out of the way. As we let go, I noticed her gaze flicker down to the Poké Balls at my waist.

"You're a trainer," she said, a note of curiosity in her voice. "What kind of Pokémon do you like to train?"

I straightened up a bit, glad for the chance to talk about something familiar. "Yeah, I am. I've always thought specializing in one type can be a great strategy, but it leaves you with some glaring weaknesses. So, I like to go for a generalist approach—train a variety of types to cover more ground. It feels like the smart move."

Cynthia's smile widened. "That's a solid philosophy. I've always believed the same. A well-rounded team can adapt to anything thrown its way."

She paused for a moment, glancing back at me. "So, what kind of Pokémon are you training right now?"

I grinned, happy to share. "My starter's a Quilava—Nova. He's been with me since the beginning."

Cynthia's eyes lit up with recognition. "A Quilava, huh? The Typhlosion line is a powerful choice, both in battle and in history."

She paused, clearly thinking. "In the Hisui region—back in ancient Sinnoh—there's a legend about a specific Typhlosion with a unique form. This Hisuian Typhlosion was part Ghost-type, said to have evolved due to the mysterious energy from Mount Coronet. But what's interesting is that ancient lines like that have hardly been seen in centuries, despite numerous attempts to find the source of the energy that once caused their evolution."

I blinked, taking in the details. A Ghost-typed Typhlosion? That was wild. "So, Nova could still evolve into something like that?"

Cynthia smiled, but there was a touch of something more in her expression—maybe caution. "Not exactly. The energy that created those ancient forms hasn't been found in modern times. But some breeders have managed to keep a few Pokémon in their Hisuian forms, passing them down through generations. It's rare, but it does exist."

I nodded, my mind buzzing with the possibilities. It wasn't like Nova needed a Ghost typing or anything, but the idea of an alternative evolution? That was worth considering. "Even if Nova can't evolve into a Ghost-type, it'd be cool to know what his options are. He's my partner, and I want him to choose the form that fits him best. I mean, even if the Ghost thing's near impossible... I'd still try for him, you know?"

I couldn't help but chuckle a little at the thought of it—me, tracking down ancient Pokémon lines for Nova. But hey, we'd been through enough together already. If he wanted to be something unique, I'd figure it out. That's just what we did.

Cynthia gave a small nod, her smile softening. "That's a great mindset. A strong bond with your Pokémon can take you far."

I shrugged, feeling a little sheepish now that I'd said all that out loud. "Yeah, well, it's Nova. I've gotta do right by him."

We chatted a bit more about Nova, ancient Pokémon, and training strategies for the rest of my team. Cynthia had a way of making everything sound fascinating, even things I'd usually skim over. I could've spent hours picking her brain about ancient myths and the hidden history of Sinnoh, but eventually, we wrapped things up. Before leaving, she let me take some photos of transcripts from an old professor—Laventon—who had created the first Pokédex for Sinnoh. The pages were from the ancient Typhlosion entry, a rare glimpse into the past.

As I finished taking the photos, she smiled. "If you ever need more advice on your team or have any questions about training, feel free to reach out." She passed me her contact info, and I tucked it away gratefully.

"Good luck with your journey," Cynthia said, giving me a nod. "And with Nova's evolution, whichever form he chooses."

As Cynthia walked away, I couldn't help but feel like I'd just gotten a peek into something bigger—ancient Pokémon, legends, and all that stuff. It wasn't just myths here; it felt like part of the place. Still, as interesting as it was, I had to focus on what was right in front of me.

Tomorrow's task lingered at the back of my mind. Wild Pokémon, the forest, whatever was going on out there—it was all waiting. But for now, I pushed those thoughts aside. Eterna City had this way of making you slow down, like it was impossible to rush through it. With the Gym closed and nothing else on the schedule, I figured I'd see where the city would take me.

I wandered down a path lined with tall trees, their branches casting cool shade over the ground. The sound of running water pulled me off the main street and into a small park nestled between two old buildings. In the middle of it, a stone fountain bubbled away. Trainers were scattered around, some battling, others just hanging out with their Pokémon.

A few had let their Pokémon roam free, chasing each other through the grass, while others lounged nearby, keeping an eye on their teams. It was nice—a break from the usual grind.

Watching the other trainers let their Pokémon roam free gave me an idea. My team had been working hard lately, and I hadn't really given them a proper break. If anyone deserved to unwind, it was them.

I reached for my Poké Balls and released the team one by one. "Alright, guys," I muttered, "take a break, do your own thing for a while. You've earned it."

Nova stretched out, letting a few small flames flicker to life as he shook himself awake. Rukia gave a soft sigh as she settled into the cool shade nearby. Triton eyed the fountain warily before finally diving in with surprisingly large splash. Aster immediately took to the sky, flapping up to a tree branch to watch everything from above, and Aria quietly started weaving webs between some plants, marking her little territory.

I watched them spread out, each falling into their own rhythm. Nova, though, caught my eye. He wandered over to the fountain, sniffing around curiously before joining the other Pokémon that were playing. I thought back to what Cynthia had said about Typhlosion's ancient form. It was hard to believe my partner could have such different paths ahead of him, depending on the circumstances.

I made a mental note to talk to him about it later. Whether he wanted to follow the path of a typical Typhlosion or something else, I'd be there to help him make that decision. After all, it was his evolution, his choice—and I'd support him no matter what.

Plus Typhlosion is sick as fuck, there is no downside.

With that settled in my mind, I turned my attention back to the team. Nova was off by the fountain, but something caught my eye—Aria. She was weaving her web, but something about her movements looked... different. Less like the usual precise patterns she spun and more like she was trying something new.

Curious, I got up and wandered over. "What're you working on, Aria?" I asked, crouching down beside her. She gave a soft "dos," her legs still moving as she spun out more thread.

I watched her for a moment, then smiled as an idea hit me. "You know, back on the farm, I used to tie all kinds of knots. How about you give me some of that thread, and I'll show you a couple?"

Aria paused for a second, then began spinning a thicker, stronger thread, passing it to me. "Ari... ados?" she said, her eyes following my hands.

"Thanks." I took the thread and twisted it between my fingers. "This one's called an anchor hitch. It's used for tying down something that needs to stay steady, like when there's pressure pulling against it." I demonstrated the knot, pulling it tight to show how secure it was.

Aria watched closely, her legs still, her focus entirely on what I was doing. "Ari," she murmured, interested.

I grinned. "Now here's a fun one—this is a honda knot. It's used for making lassos." I tied the knot quickly, the motions familiar from years of wrangling calves. "Just don't tie it to yourself, trust me. I learned that lesson the hard way. Getting dragged by a calf isn't fun."

Nodding to me with a glint in her eye as she understood. "Ados…"

I handed her the loop. She carefully examined it before incorporating it into her web. After watching her for a second, I chuckled and rubbed the back of my neck. "Now that I think about it, these knots probably aren't the most useful for weaving. But, hey, they might come in handy some other time."

Before I could turn away, I felt something tug at my waist. I looked down and saw a neatly spun web lasso wrapped around me. Aria had already pulled it tight, a playful glint in her eyes. "Ari... Ados," she said with a satisfied nod.

I laughed, shaking my head. "Alright, alright. I guess you're planning on using it then."

An hour of walking around later, I stood in front of the Team Galactic building. The place stuck out like a sore thumb in Eterna's rustic theme—cold, industrial, more alien looking than anything... I suppose one could call it futuristic but that means we'd have to look forward to more of this engineer's nightmare in the future.

Sadly I've played the games enough to know what was coming next. Normally you'd go in guns blazing and take the entire operation down… sadly neither myself nor my team were at the level I'd want for that yet. We'd be way above target in the games for certain, but there's no telling what powerhouses they could have in a real scenario like this…

I sighed, stepping back. "There's a time and place for everything, but... yeah, not now," I muttered with a shake of my head, turning away to leave.

As I made my way back toward the Pokémon Center, the late afternoon sun started casting long shadows across the city. Eterna felt peaceful, but I wasn't in the mood to relax just yet. My medical supplies were still running low from the cave battle, and with tomorrow's trip into the forest, I needed to be fully stocked.

I quickly changed direction, heading back toward the market street I'd spotted earlier. It didn't take long to find what I needed. The marketplace was still busy with vendors offering berries, potions, and all sorts of supplies. I moved from stall to stall, picking up a few potions, full heals, and some berries for the team.

Once everything was packed away in my bag, I left the bustling market behind. Instead of heading back into the heart of the city, I decided to walk toward the outskirts. The noise of Eterna faded the further I went, and eventually, I found myself in a quiet, open area just outside the city limits.

It was peaceful here—no crowds, no distractions. Just the rustling of the trees and the distant sound of a stream somewhere nearby. I sat down on a small hill, letting the breeze wash over me, and closed my eyes for a moment. My aura—my lifeforce—was still sore from overuse during the cave fight. It pulsed faintly, not with the same strength as before, more like a dull ache.

I took a deep breath and focused inward. I wasn't going to push it—Aaron's story was enough of a reminder of what happens when you overuse your aura. I needed to let it settle, to relax and restore itself. Slowly, I felt the tension begin to ease, like loosening a muscle that had been strained for too long. Tomorrow was going to be tough, and I couldn't afford to be careless with something as important as this.

With the tension in my aura finally easing, I stood up and stretched, feeling a bit more centered. The evening was creeping in fast, and it was time to head back to the Pokémon Center to get some rest before tomorrow. The walk back was quiet, and by the time I reached the Center, the sky had darkened, and the city had settled into a calm evening rhythm.

I stepped through the sliding doors, expecting the usual quiet lobby—but instead, I was met with chaos. Nurse Joy was rushing back and forth behind the counter, and two trainers, both girls, were handing over their Pokémon with urgent looks on their faces. The tension in the room was thick.

Curious, and a little concerned, I walked up to them as they took a seat nearby. Both looked worse for wear—scrapes, dirt, and exhaustion clear on their faces.

"Hey," I said, taking a seat near them. "What happened? You two look like you've been through hell."

One of the girls, a brunette with a faint cut on her cheek, gave a weary smile. "Yeah... feels like it. The forest... it's gotten bad. Way worse than we thought."

"The forest?" I repeated, leaning in. "What do you mean?"

The second girl, who had a limp and was cradling her arm, glanced at me, then back at her friend. "We work with Gardenia, the gym leader. We were out in the forest with her, trying to figure out what's been causing all the wild Pokémon to act up."

I felt a knot tighten in my chest. "And?"

"We barely made it out," the brunette continued, rubbing her temples. "Something's stirred up the entire ecosystem. The Pokémon are restless, more aggressive... we got separated from Gardenia and our third teammate when we got ambushed by a bunch of wild murkrow."

"She's still out there?" I asked, my voice a little sharper than I intended.

They both nodded, the worry clear in their eyes. "Yeah," the girl with the limp replied. "She's still out there, with Emily. We were lucky to get away, but we're not sure how long they can hold out."

I sat back, the weight of their words sinking in. The forest was going to be a lot more dangerous than I had anticipated. If Gardenia and her trainers were struggling, what was I walking into tomorrow with Dr. Malcolm Silvers?

The knot in my chest tightened as I glanced toward Nurse Joy, who was hard at work healing their Pokémon. Tomorrow was going to be tough. Much tougher than I'd thought. Hopefully they can hold out till then, as I'm still short on aura as is, and I don't want to be dead weight if it comes down to an ambush like that.

XxxxX

That's the end of the chapter folks! Sorry it took me so long to get this one out and done, I had some trouble trying to figure out what I should have rusk do here, but eventually settled on letting him get some down time.

Also from now on, any and all pokedex entries will occur at the end of the chapter unless necessary in the chapter, and the next chapter will have a party line-up.

Also chapter question time! What do you think is causing the disturbance in the forest? Though I feel like I've hinted at it a bit already… I think anyways.

{Feebas – The Fish Pokémon}
Feebas is a shabby, old-looking, fishlike Pokémon with a light brown body covered in dark, irregular spots. It has large, deep-set eyes and big, pink lips. The tail and pectoral fins are dull blue and tattered in appearance. The dorsal fin is triangular with a hole in the middle.
Feebas is famous for its shabby appearance and is considered the shabbiest Pokémon. Due to its poor appearance, it is largely ignored by predators, Trainers, and researchers alike. However, this hardy Pokémon is capable of eating anything and living anywhere. It is often found in oceans and weed-choked ponds, even if only a little water is available. While many of these Pokémon exist, populations tend to cluster in small areas. Once found, its dull wits make it easy to capture. Feebas is a source of research due to its vitality despite being unattractive and unpopular.
{This Feebas has the ability – Swift Swim}

{Quilava – The Volcano Pokémon}
Quilava is a quadrupedal Pokémon with a long and slender body. The top half of its body is a dark blue-green, while its underside is cream-colored. It has triangular ears with dark red interiors, a rounded snout, and triangular red eyes. Each of its paws has three toes. It has five red spots on its body that can project flames: two arranged vertically on its forehead and three lined up horizontally on its rear.
Before a battle, Quilava turns its back so its flames face its opponent. It battles using these intense flames in combination with gusts of superheated air. Its own fur is non-flammable, which protects it from other fire attacks. Quilava tends to be rare in the wild but can sometimes be found living on grasslands.
{This Quilava has the ability – Flash Fire}