TEAM: Lucy (Chikorita) & Jackson (Hoothoot), Surpurna (Pidgey) & Venio (Bellsprout), Arachnio (Spinarak) & Squeakers (Rattata)

"More are coming? What do you mean more are coming?!"

Silver didn't respond. All Wesley could do was try and keep up as the both of them hastily climbed out of Slowpoke Well. There was an urgency in that initial warning, and when they reached Azalea Town…

… it was completely fine. Given the hour, everyone had already taken to bed, leaving the only company around to be the hordes of rescued Slowpoke settling in. Be it designated patches of straw or nestled against the trees, Azalea's quiet atmosphere seemed to feel more whole with their trademark pink Pokémon out and yawning about. Putting the 'Pokémon' in 'Living happily with Pokémon'. Wesley couldn't help but smile at the pleasant surprise Azalea's citizens would wake up to.

"I don't know what you're so worried about, Silver." Wesley shrugged. "Everything is fine."

"Won't be fine for long…!" Silver hissed with a hush. He glanced at his buzzing Pokéball once more. "The signal is coming from Ilex Forest."

Wesley blinked. "Wait, I remember a local telling me the Gym Leader is scouting the forest…"

Silver didn't respond, as flighty as always. There was no way Wesley was letting him out of his sight, so he continued his pursuit, past all the Slowpoke and towards the path the trees gathered by. Towards Ilex Forest.

Branches crunched underfoot as darkness loomed, with only brief glimpses of moonlight peeking through the canopy of trees far above. Wesley wouldn't have seen the purple-haired body on the ground if it weren't for that light.

And standing by that body was a cyan-haired man with a bright white uniform. Its pocket had a bold red R presented on it, as if the conniving stare the man sent his direction wasn't enough of a giveaway.

"So it appears you're the blond meddler our boss ordered to eliminate." There was a calculated tone to his words. "Didn't expect a mere boy, but you fit the bill otherwise. One of my associates told me of a kid from New Bark who wanted to be a hero."

Wesley's unnerved stare still lingered over the figure face down in the grass. "What did… what did you do…?"

"Oh, Bugsy?" The Team Rocket man looked down with a dismissive glare. "Azalea's own Gym Leader just so happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. His Bug types were no match for my might. Don't worry, a few are still in peak fighting condition." He lifted his eyes with a knowing smile. "Ah, and if it isn't Silver!"

"Cut the chatter, Archer." Silver snapped. "Whatever you're up to… don't expect to get away with it. I know you have a transmitter on you."

"Oh, so you're familiar with these?" The man—Archer—produced some sort of small device in his hand. "Then I suppose I don't need to explain myself further. I was called to eliminate a problem. And I know how meddlesome you upstart kids can be." He pulled out two Pokéballs. "So let's get to the heart of this."

From those two Pokéballs, a Heracross and a Scyther emerged, appearing very confused.

"It would be a shame if, say, I used Bugsy's dear Pokémon to do my dirty work for me." Archer pulled out another of those chip-like devices, fiddling with them. "Empower… Scyther and Heracross. Siphon… from everything else! Hah!"

On that laugh, he slapped each chip onto both Pokémon with his palm, and the second he did, both Pokémon started to screech and hiss in pain. Wesley immediately recognized the phenomenon, doubly so when he noticed some Caterpie and Weedle falling out of the trees, writhing in agony.

"Everything we do is in the name of Team Rocket." Archer stood behind the Heracross and Scyther, who now appeared to be panting with rage. "With that, I'll take my exit. You'd best remember the name Archer. For however long you have left."

As Archer turned around, Silver was quick to shove past Wesley. "Now just wait a minute! You're not escaping that easily!"

Archer had already departed deeper into the forest, with Silver hastily moving to follow. Wesley attempted the same, only to be stopped by the pair of empowered Pokémon who now had their eyes on him.

"Okay…" Wesley gulped, taking a few steps back, leaves and branches crunching as he did. "Guess it's up to me to clean up this mess." Thanks, Silver. Wait, these Pokémon were quick—

He already had to duck and dodge at the swing of a blade and the lunge of a horn. This had to be the work of those transmitter frequency things, the ones that hurt his Pokémon, like with the Pidgeotto and Union Cave! For both times, the situation calmed down after Silver cut that metal tree and Cue shattered that box, likely destroying the source of those frequencies. But with these two…

Wesley moved out of the way of a Scyther's blade, which cleanly cut through the tree right behind him, and the Heracross didn't hesitate to impale its trunk. Between breaths, between dodges, he saw the metal chips on their backs. The transmitters he had to destroy. If only there was a safer way to get closer…!

The way he dealt with the Pidgeotto quickly came to mind. Although his fingers were shaky, he managed to slip out a Pokéball. "Venio, Sleep Powder—"

The Bellsprout barely had enough time to pop out before the Scyther kicked him away with blinding speed. Wesley was quick to dive after him, Potion at the ready. Okay, if he wasn't tough enough, maybe Lucy—

Not even her leaf could stop the Heracross' lunge from sending her careening towards a tree's trunk. Potion, Potion… Of course Grass types wouldn't work, of course, he needed… eyes in the sky! Of course, he needed Flying types to fight these Bug types!

"Surpurna! Jackson!"

With the right distance, they could easily back up Venio and Lucy, who were roughed up but still stuck close. Wesley got some good distance as his two Flying types successfully hovered out of the Heracross' swinging strikes. It was just that he didn't expect the Scyther to slice a few trees and hop on them to catch up to his Pokémon.

"No!"

No winds or shouts could stop the double blade slam that shot his Pokémon out of the sky. Wesley gasped, arms outstretched as he caught his plummeting Pokémon.

"Night Shade!"

Thankfully, Arachnio appeared in the nick of time to blind the aggravated Bug types with darkness, while also giving Wesley and his team just the cover they needed to stop, breathe, and think. Just had to sneak away while they swung at air…

"Those guys hit way too hard…" Venio complained, clutching the side of his roots.

"I hate to admit it, but…" Lucy winced, her stare appearing genuinely lost as she looked up at Wesley. "Is this even a fight we can win?"

"She's right…" Then came Surpurna's exhausted addition. "I'm not sure I'm ready for this…"

Jackson stood with a wobble, glancing at Arachnio's similarly worried look before facing his trainer. "It's your call. But all that noise keeps ringing in my ears…"

Seeing them all like this, battered because of a fight he couldn't run from, suffering from frequencies he couldn't hear, didn't help Wesley's breathing. But he steeled himself. He had to be strong. He peeked from his shade, seeing how furiously the two Pokémon lunged at anything and everything. If they weren't dead set on him, they were lashing out at wild Pokémon. And he didn't want to imagine what would happen once they noticed Bugsy's hopefully unconscious body.

"I know it's tough, but… If we don't stop them here, they might hurt other people. They might go for the town." Wesley's voice was shaky, which only lingered as he thought of Azalea's peaceful state. "They're too quick to subdue the way we usually do things. We're going to have to overpower them if we want a shot at destroying those transmitters." He quietly reassured himself that this was what a hero would do. "So let's hit 'em with our strongest technique."

Arachnio's Night Shade would've been cleared in the process, but at least it would be done with style. With the two Bug types still blinded, Wesley called Lucy, Venio, Surpurna, and Jackson to his side.

"Poison haze!"

First came the Poison Powder, then came the wings. The combined efforts brought a poisonous gust that was quick to sweep up their attackers in a direct hit. They flinched ever so slightly, but just knowing the poison worked gave Wesley the sign that it was only a matter of time before he got the upper hand. Or so he thought.

The Scyther looked to be suffering from the poison, but… why did the Heracross look even more determined to fight?

A slice cut another tree down, and a horn shattered it into pieces in an instant. Wesley didn't have time to see the debris coming. Several rapidly speeding pieces of wood had hit him in the face, leaving him staggering, vision blurring.

"...ley!"

Everything wobbled. It was as if he could feel the effects of those hidden frequencies take a toll on him. All he could see were the shapes that moved to protect him.

"...enio!"

The shapes were calling out things. The yellow one was sent flying somewhere.

And then the flying one was struck too.

"Sur…!"

The big green shape was moving closer, until a smaller green shape leapt in front of him, bathed in light.

He heard something sharp, and the light faded instantly. Another flying shape was sent somewhere with another strike. Their hazy cries left Wesley sick to his stomach, and he ended up keeling over before he could breathe out a response.

As Wesley fell, he saw a Spinarak. He saw shadow. He saw the way Arachnio clung to him, trying to shake him.

He saw another Pokémon pop out. Purple fur. Cue.

"...ll …ll f… …elp!"

Wesley tried to reach out to her. But she ran. Away from the battle. Away from him.

"Cue…" His breath was weak.

Arachnio felt alone. He didn't know if Wesley was going to be okay. He didn't know if the others were going to be okay. He didn't know where Cue went. He didn't know what to do.

He didn't know how long his Night Shade would keep them hidden. It was just an evasive measure, but this would still work, right? The plan was to outlast the poisoned Pokémon, right?

Being hidden was something Arachnio was all too used to. But he didn't like doing nothing about the state of things. He had to be brave like the others. He had to fight.

Cloaking Wesley in the most Night Shade he could muster, Arachnio leapt away and spewed shots of string towards the Scyther and Heracross. It didn't matter if he hit their faces. He just had to draw their attention.

Crawling was hard to do in foliage flooded deep with sliced leaves and wood. Leaping was all he could do when the two attackers noticed him. But he wasn't fast enough.

His abdomen flinched as it acted as the easiest moving target, practically knocking him all over the place. A swift kick, a thrusted horn, it hurt, but Arachnio still persevered. The noise hurt, but he didn't want to go down.

Another strike sent him recoiling towards a tree. No more jumping. No more moving. He did his best, but these Pokémon weren't slowing down in the slightest. He was afraid this day would come.

Maybe… if he could just cast one more Night Shade…

"Help is here!"

His morale perked up at the sound of Cue's voice. Some sort of seed shooting attack caught the Scyther's attention before it got hit by a rock. A flying attack struck the Heracross from behind, causing it to wail in pain. Right in front of him, Cue stood, like a light in the shadow, here to rescue him.

"Hey…" The Rattata glanced his way. "Hope I didn't keep you waiting long."

Arachnio didn't mind. Her attempt to call for help paid off, and he watched in awe, recognizing a few of the Pokémon that came to their aid. The Hoppip from the route over. The Geodude from the cave. One of the Zubat from the well. Even one of the forest's own Caterpie looked to be inspired to fight back with shots of string.

"Just stay right there." Cue assured him, her voice sounding like a beacon of hope. "Now it's my turn to leap into the fray!"

Arachnio wanted to warn her, to tell her exactly where she was supposed to strike, but she had already leapt off. She was going for the Scyther. But even under fire from two other Pokémon, the Scyther saw her coming.

All it took was one wayward swing to send her reeling back to him. He braced for impact, only to widen his eyes when he heard her cry of pain. His horn had pricked her skin.

He didn't know what to do. His little legs quickly scurried, desperate to dislodge himself, only to scream internally at the sight of her wound. She was poisoned. She was poisoned and it was his fault.

"Worried… about me…?" She was still conscious, still speaking. Her gaze was warm. "Don't worry."

Pained as she was, she didn't look tired in the slightest. If anything, she looked even more determined to fight.

"A Gligar once told me that I'm pretty gutsy for a Rattata."

She wiped her face, and when she leapt, her momentum was instant. Her Quick Attack maneuvered around both the Scyther and the Heracross, leaving them to swing at air before she struck. Her head-on collision struck with the loudest wallop Arachnio ever heard, sending them reeling to the trees, and somehow, likely thanks to the poison, it was enough to knock the threats out, leaving them falling to the grass. With a triumphant yell, Cue stood over them, ripping those device things off of their backs and crushing them in her paws.

Finally, the constant ringing beckoning him with pain had stopped.

Wesley was still dazed. By the time the sounds of fighting had stopped, it took him a second to realize this wasn't a dream.

"Urgh… what happened…?"

He blinked, lifting himself off of the grass, and the first things he saw were Cue and Arachnio standing in front of him.

"Hiya, boss." The Rattata greeted him with a weak wave. "We took care of things for ya."

That got him to stare in shock. He saw the collapsed Scyther and Heracross, and he saw other Pokémon there too. The last thing he remembered was Cue running away, but…

Cue must've noticed his concerned stare. "What, worried about me being poisoned?" Despite her proud grin, her words were ever so slightly slurred. "Don'tcha worry… I'mma survivor."

At the very least, seeing her make light of all this gave Wesley a reason to sigh with relief. From the looks of things, he needed to take her to a Pokémon Center, he needed to take Arachnio to a Pokémon Center, and then…

"The others." He instantly shot up, clutching his head, but he tried to stand steady. "Where are the others?"

Lucy, Jackson, Venio, Surpurna. He looked to Cue and Arachnio for answers, but they didn't say anything. Their expressions shifted for the worst, but…

Wesley didn't want to believe it. The last he remembered were those flashes of them protecting him. But they had to be okay. They had to be okay.

They had to be here somewhere. Hiding. Playing another one of their pranks on him. He already took to scraping wood and foliage away with his bare hands.

"Lucy! C'mon, I know you're there! Jackson! Surpurna! Venio! Come out, come out, wherever you are!"

But his shaky voice would echo with no response. He tossed away more leaves, dug through more of the sliced and shattered wood, and then…

…

They were just fine before.

What did… how did… why weren't they…?

No. No. No no no no no no no.

Please. Please.

Please…

"I'll call for help!"

Good luck, Cue. Lucy wished the best for her, for Wesley, for everyone. She couldn't fight anymore.

Her vision had blurred to the point where she couldn't see two feet in front of her. The trees had fallen around her, sliced leaves and shrubs leaving her partially submerged in foliage. Try as she did, her strength had faded, with buzzes and invisible voices lingering within, taking root to take whatever was left.

Yet, if she was in this much pain, she could only imagine how the others felt. Battered and beaten before her very eyes, still left to wonder how far they've been separated. But she knew they were still there, somewhere. She couldn't fathom a moment like this without them, not like this.

In the seconds she attempted to drag herself through the blanket of fallen leaves, she saw stirring elsewhere. Faint, weak, barely present, but still there. And yet, their voices seemed to fall silent. Succumbing to the discordant noise that still loomed in their senses, drowning out everything else that was still left. Jackson, Venio, Surpurna, they had to be there, they had to. If only she was closer…

She felt cold when she collapsed against the leaves once more. The sun wouldn't shine for her or the others again. It would be remiss of her to assure the others otherwise. The sight of the truth shattered her heart more than her exhaustion did. Lying here, under the forest's canopy, the least she could do was help the others rest.

"I am tired of this dream…

Will it ever end for me…?

I don't have the will to know…

Can you help me see…?"

Her melancholic melody was accompanied by one more aroma, her last message over the breeze, a soothing scent she hoped would reach her friends.

"Let my body keep you warm…

Let my essence be your breeze…

Can you hear me calling?

Please look out for me."

Slowly, with the rise and fall of her eyelids, her outstretched paw would meet the others. A smaller leaf, a gentle wing, and a warmer wing.

"Can you set me free?

Will you take my soul away?

Casting me in cold,

Bury me in bones,

Rest eternally…"

Each touch felt like its own message of silent gratitude. They must be in so much pain. They must be so tired. But they were ready, and they had fallen silent. Goodnight, Venio. Goodnight, Surpurna.

Even now, Jackson's weary eyes still seemed intent on watching over her. Even now, Jackson offered her his wing for warmth. It was always her songs that guided him. And as she accepted his offer, she hoped to fulfill the routine one last time.

"Will you take me home…?

Can we see the moon again…?

Dancing in the dark…

'Til we fall apart…

I can't end this dream…"

Goodnight, Jackson.

Memories spent laughing and traveling together served as the sunlight that started to fade. Her sunlight. And in that darkness, her song had faded, and the lingering effects of that discordant noise had come to reap what was left of her. She was ready to dream with the others.

Goodnight.

NOTE: Song used is Eternal Dream by AJ Dispirito and Elsie Lovelock.