Author's Notes: Hey all! Sorry for being MIA. I had a terrible stomach flu that took me out for about two weeks. That being said, I'm quickly approaching a certain season of life where I'm going to be even moreeee MIA haha but I hope to at least churn out some chapters. I just might not be as responsive or present online for a little while. Truthfully, I really want to get this story done but am struggling with bandwidth so sorry if some scenes feel rushed! But I figured trucking through parts of the story is better than stopping cold turkey. The hope is to one day come back and flesh out things I couldn't at the time.

Anyway, thanks for your patience! I love hearing from all of you!

Chapter 36: Double Trouble

Area Two, East Province

The fields of Area Two stretched endlessly west of Levincia, golden grass rippling in the cold breeze. The sun, low on the horizon, was shrouded by a thin layer of stratus clouds, dimming the light and chilling the air as evening approached. Ash, Gary, Brock, and Clemont walked in steady formation, their Pokémon moving alongside them. The winding river to their right mirrored the sky, a thin band of silver that guided them westward.

The inventor led the way, his eyes flicking between the landscape and the map he held, his fingers adjusting his glasses now and then as he double-checked their route. Every so often, he glanced at his various gadgets, checking coordinates, confirming their direction. "We should stay close to the river," he murmured. "It'll keep us oriented while we move."

Ash pulled his vest closer around him as Pikachu trotted at his side. The journey gave him time to catch Clemont and Gary up on everything he had learned while in Kanto—starting from finding a strange Tera Shard in Koraidon's plumes, the strange visions, and all that—though his jaw kind of hurt from having to talk so much. Still, he continued.

"And so Cerise had the Tera Shard studied," Ash explained. "He knows that all the other shards are tied to a specific type—Fire, Water, Grass, whatever. But the one Koraidon showed me…well, it wasn't like that."

Clemont turned his head slightly, intrigued. "How so?"

Ash gestured vaguely, as if searching for the right words. "Its energy kept shifting, almost like it couldn't decide what type it wanted to be. It was, like, all of them at once or something."

"And that means what, exactly?" Gary frowned, his brow furrowing.

Ash exhaled, trying to accurately recall Cerise's explanation. "They think it wasn't naturally formed like the others. That instead, it came from something—or someone—that can create Tera Shards." The young champion ran a hand through his hair and blew out a breath, glancing at Pikachu. "A Pokémon."

Clemont's mind was already racing, his ice-blue eyes bright and alert. "If that's true, it would mean there's a Pokémon responsible for generating these shards—one with an energy signature far beyond anything we've encountered."

Brock, who had been listening in silence, rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Rehearing everything, he had a new thought to add. "It would have to be something with a connection to Stable Energy, something deeply tied to Paldea's ecosystem."

Gary crossed his arms, shaking his head with a smirk. "Things just keep getting better and better."

Ash blew out another long sigh, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah… it's kind of a mess."

Clemont nodded, his analytical mind still processing. "I know Clavell will be curious about the shard, Ash. We should probably take it to the Academy after this weekend."

Ash nodded. "Yeah."

The conversation faded as they pressed forward. The river curved away to the north, and in the distance, hills rose like dark silhouettes against the dimming sky. The occasional call of wild Pokémon echoed across the open plains—Rookidee flitted in the distance, hopping between sparse trees, while a small herd of Deerling grazed peacefully along the riverbank.

Ash let his gaze drift toward the horizon, his thoughts tangled with everything they had discussed. He could still hear Oak's voice in his head, how he had spoken about the possibility of a Pokémon behind the Tera phenomenon. If that was true, then tracking it down might be the key to understanding everything happening in Paldea. It might even be the key to understanding Professor's Turo's work…

Then, something caught his eye.

A faint, scintillating funnel of light flickered from behind a nearby hill, pulsing with a strange, shifting glow. It lasted only a second, then vanished.

Ash squinted into the frigid air, Pikachu nuzzling into his arms to stay warm. "Hey, guys—" His voice carried just loud enough to snap them to attention. "What's that?"

Clemont looked up from his map, his face set as he adjusted his glasses. His sharp eyes followed Ash's line of sight, landing on the hill where the strange light had been. "Looks like something we need to investigate." He exchanged glances with Chespin, then carefully folded the map and tucked it into the breast pocket of his jumpsuit.

"Definitely." Gary's breath came out misty in the cooling air as he watched Umbreon trot ahead.

Brock tightened the straps of his backpack. "Something tells me we might be walking straight into trouble."

Without another word, they picked up their pace, their Pokémon at their heels, heading toward the unknown light that had briefly fractured the twilight sky. The closer they moved, the more the air around them seemed charged with something indescribable—a pressure, almost, humming just below the range of hearing. Pikachu's ears twitched, Umbreon's fur bristled, and even Chespin looked determined, sensing something beyond what the human eye could perceive.

As they crested the ridge, the hill sloped downward into a valley obscured by shifting mist. And at the very center, barely visible through the haze, was another flickering light, shimmering like something not quite tethered to reality.

Ash set his jaw. "Let's go."

Area Three, Eastern Province

Bonnie clung to Orthworm's smooth, metallic body, gripping tightly with her legs while Dedenne held onto her shoulder, his tiny paws tangled in her hair. The wind whipped around them as Steel type surged forward, kicking up dirt and sending shockwaves through the battlefield.

"H-hey! Slow down!" Bonnie called, trying to keep her voice steady despite the ride of her life. Really, the one thing that kept repeating in her mind was that she really didn't want Clemont to know about this, but at the same time, she kinda wanted this to be on TV. Still, she had bigger concerns to worry about at the moment. "We can help you, but you have to stop first!"

Dedenne let out a panicked squeak, his tiny tail crackling with static as he was flung this way and that with the whiplash.

Back on the ground, Nemona frantically waved her arms towards the rest of the group and the Team Star crew. "Everyone, hold your attacks! Bonnie's on the Orthworm!"

Running up to the scene beside Eri, Carmen stared at Nemona like she'd just spoken in a foreign language. "And how did this happen?"

Nemona hesitated, glancing at Bonnie, who was currently riding the Orthworm like some mechanical Tauros. "It's… complicated."

Eri exhaled sharply before turning to the Team Star grunts. "Okay, guys! Stay on the defensive! No unnecessary attacks!"

Arven and Goh, who had been making a very valiant and very terrified attempt at dodging Orthworm's wild movements, glanced at each other before continuing to run at full speed.

"Easy enough!" Arven called, breathless, as he and Mabostiff leaped over a collapsing section of the ground.

"Yeah, sure, love the plan!" Goh shouted, ducking as Orthworm's tail smashed into the ground behind him. "Not like we're running for our lives or anything!"

Bonnie, meanwhile, had decided that, actually, riding a giant metal worm wasn't so bad. "Woohoo!" she giggled, gripping Orthworm's body tighter as it bucked and turned. "Okay, okay, I know you're upset, but listen! You've got something stuck in you! That's why you're acting like this!"

She turned toward the others, still trying to maintain her balance. "Guys! Orthworm is hurt! There's something stuck in its side!"

Watching the spectacle with his hands on his hips, Aliquis sighed before exchanging glances with Meowscarada. "Yeah, that doesn't look great…" His eyes flickered between Arven and Goh running away from gigantic worm and Bonnie's precarious position, calculating their next move.

Penny rolled her eyes, adjusting her glasses. "Well, instead of screaming about it, let's do something." She nodded to the Bubble Jet Pokémon by her side. "Vaporeon, Aqua Ring—target the wound!"

Vaporeon let out a soft trill before sending shimmering rings of water toward the embedded spike, the liquid swirling around the wound in a soothing, almost hypnotic motion.

Eri nodded approvingly. "We'll try to slow it down. Everyone else—aim your attacks at the spike! Let's see if we can get it out!"

All attention shifted to the metal lodged in Orthworm's side. Standing beside Penny, Aliquis wasted no time. "Meowscarada, Leaf Storm! Try to lift or loosen that thing!"

Meowscarada leapt gracefully onto a nearby ledge and spun, whipping up a storm of sharp, whirling leaves. The gust of green energy battered against the spike, attempting to weaken its grip.

Stopping just before the Steel Titan, Mabostiff, Annihilape, Primeape, and a small squad of other Fighting-types threw themselves in Orthworm's path, attempting to form a pyramid of wall that would slow the Titan down. Surprisingly, they didn't collapse like bowling pins. Though they were certainly pushed back, the group grappled against the worm's massive body, digging their feet into the shifting ground to slow its movements. Orthworm let out a frustrated screech. The combined strength of the team was keeping it restrained just enough.

Penny's Vaporeon continued its Aqua Ring, sending wave after wave of water against the spike, hoping to loosen it with persistent pressure.

But Orthworm, confused and in pain, was not going down easy. With a loud, guttural roar, it reared back, raising its tail high before bringing it crashing down in a massive Slam. The impact again sent shockwaves rippling outward, shaking the entire battlefield.

Bonnie let out a startled yelp as she was nearly thrown off. Dedenne screeched, sparks flying wildly from its cheeks.

Feeling bold—and maybe even a little irritated at this point—Bonnie crawled forward and managed to slide down between Orthworm's glowing yellow eyes. Gripping onto the Steel type's metal plates for dear life, the small lemon-haired girl glared at the Pokémon. "Stop that right now before you hurt someone!"

To everyone's surprise, Orthworm froze for a moment, its massive eyes blinking as though it had actually heard her. The rage in its expression softened slightly, its movements uncertain.

That hesitation was all the opening Eri needed.

"Annihilape—hit it now! Cross Chop!"

With blinding speed, Annihilape shot forward, his arms glowing with fighting energy as he leaped beside the halted Orthworm. With one precise, devastating strike, it drove its glowing fists directly into the metal spike.

There was a sickening CRACK as the spike shifted—then, with a metallic screech, it dislodged completely.

Orthworm reared up, releasing a deafening, pain-filled roar. The ground rumbled as the Titan twisted and writhed, shaking off days of agony in one final, desperate motion.

Then, with a final burst of energy, Orthworm unleashed a tremendous Earthquake.

The ground split beneath them, tremors rocking through the quarry as dust and debris filled the air. The shockwave sent trainers stumbling, Pokémon digging in to keep their footing. Massive chunks of rock splintered and fell from the cliffs above, sending even more clouds of dust billowing into the sky.

The entire battlefield was swallowed in a choking haze.

Then—silence.

For a moment, the world stood still. No sound, no movement—just the dust hanging in the air, illuminated by the faint rays of the sun.

Penny coughed, her head popping out from a small pile of powdered rubble. "Okay. Dramatic."

Arven, Goh, and Aliquis all groaned, lifting themselves off the ground like old men with back issues. They looked around for their Pokémon and found them helping others up from beneath small piles of rocks and debris.

Bursting forth from one of these piles, Nemona emerged—her heart still hammering in her chest, turned, her eyes wide. "Bonnie?!"

From the thick dust cloud, a faint, slightly dazed voice responded.

"I'm… still here! Dedenne's fur is all frizzy though."

As the dust settled, Bonnie sat beside a now small Orthworm, its body still and almost relaxed. The Pokémon's large eyes blinked at the young girl in something that resembled gratitude. Dedenne clung to her head, his fur indeed standing on end like it had been struck by lightning.

With a cheeky grin, Bonnie scratched her nose at everyone's shocked expressions. "So…did anyone get that on video?"

East Province, Area Two

A jagged, crystalline structure jutted out from the earth, crackling with eerie violet energy. It was large—and seemingly summoned out of nothing, standing in the middle of a field with a beam of glowing light shooting upwards like a beacon to the sky. The pulsating streaks of electricity ran along the cave's surface like veins, illuminating the surrounding grass in a dim, flickering glow. The sky above had deepened to a twilight blue, and the cool wind carried a strange, almost metallic scent. Ash, Clemont, Brock, and Gary stood before the ominous entrance, each of them instinctively tensing.

Clemont let out a nervous chuckle. "This has to be it. The Tera Cave." On his shoulder, Chespin nodded in agreement, swallowing a berry whole as if for courage.

Gary let out a low whistle, noticing Umbreon's lowered ears and the snarl on the Dark-type's lips. "Looks more like a storm waiting to happen."

"Let's not waste time standing around," Brock nodded, a hand moving instinctively to his Pokéballs to make sure his companions were at the ready, "We don't know how long this cave will stays stable."

Before Ash could take a step forward, Clemont held up a small, harness-like device. "Wait, Ash. Put this on."

Ash raised a brow, taking the harness with a mildly annoyed sniff. "What is it?"

"A BioSync monitor for your vitals—and maybe even your energy output. With the way you seem to react to these crystals, I want to be sure nothing is affecting you too drastically in there." Clemont extended the device. "It needs to go around your chest."

Ash exchanged glances with Pikachu, who gave a small nod. Sighing, the young champion stripped off his vest and t-shirt, shivering slightly in the cold air as he fastened the discreet, form-fitting strap so that the ultra-thin sensor pad was positioned against his skin. In the center of the pad, no larger than a thumbprint, was a small embedded module for data transmission.

Gary snorted. "Since when did you get ripped? What, trying to impress Serena?" He wiggled his eyebrows, smirking as Ash struggled to put his shirt back on. "Give her something good to hang on to while you're—"

Ash moved fast, locking an arm around Gary's neck in a firm chokehold. "I need you to stop talking."

Clemont sweatdropped and opened the integrated app that synced with the device via his Rotom Phone. "Uh, your heart rate's accelerating..." the inventor frowned.

"I…bet it is…Ah!" Gary sputtered and gasped under Ash's hold.

Brock sighed and stepped forward, prying Ash off Gary and tossing him the rest of his clothes. "Focus, people." He pointed to the horizon. "We're losing daylight."

"Someone needs to lighten up," Gary grumbled, dusting himself off and readjusting his clothes.

Sobering, the group prepared for the descent into the cave of dark crystals. The researcher motioned Umbreon forward, his golden rings glowing faintly. Brock released Croagunk, who cracked his knuckles. Ash gave Pikachu a nod, and Clemont summoned Luxray, his piercing eyes reflecting the unstable energy in the air.

Brock muttered, "We can't crowd the cave during a raid."

"Yeah..." Ash exhaled, observing their team.

They all stepped forward, through the gem-like jaws of the cave's entrance. Immediately they felt the ground slope downward into the dark. For a while, they traveled through the pitch—Umbreon's rings glowing in the dark. Soon, however, the cavern throbbed with a shadowy glow, the crystalline walls came alive, pulsing faintly with shifting light. The air was dense, thick with something beyond humidity—a presence, a force pressing against them. Stalactites dripped iridescent droplets onto the uneven stone below. A deep, resonating hum vibrated through the air, almost like a chorus of distant voices woven into the energy itself.

Gary shivered. "Why is it freezing in here?"

Clemont adjusted his glasses again. "No sunlight? Damp conditions? The energy could also be affecting the temperature."

"Okay, I get it..." Gary exhaled sharply.

Brock lifted a hand. "Shhh..."

Clemont pulled out a Tera Spectrum Analyzer, a compact, high-frequency scanning device given to him by Clavell to measure fluctuations in Tera Energy—it was essentially a smaller version of what the Academy used to study the isolated Tera Crystals in their labs.

However, as soon as the inventor drew out the device, his brow furrowed as the readings spiked erratically, the numbers fluctuating wildly in a way that made no logical sense. "Yeah, this is way different than analyzing Tera Shards in isolation…" he muttered, his fingers tightening around the device. A faint bead of sweat formed on his temple as he tapped at the screen, trying to stabilize the data feed. The energy levels were shifting too rapidly, almost as if responding to something—or someone. The Tera Shards, their surfaces shifting between deep purples and a mingling of reds and blues, pulsed softly as if alive. The energy readings spiked erratically on his screen.

Clemont glanced over at Ash, about to say more, when he noticed his friend shaking his head as if trying to clear it. "You okay?"

Ash ran a hand down his face, blinking rapidly. "Yeah. It's just…" The air around him felt denser, thick like fog, pressing against his chest with an inexplicable weight. A faint ringing filled his ears, dull and persistent, as if he were sinking underwater. His limbs felt sluggish, like they were moving through molasses, and a cold sweat broke out along the back of his neck. The world around him seemed to pulse in and out of focus, his surroundings both too sharp and too blurred all at once. "I'm just already starting to feel weird…" he finally finished.

Pikachu peered up at him, eyes filled with concern. "Pika…?"

"Weird how?" Gary pressed, placing a hand on Ash's shoulder—trying to stabilize him.

Ash shook his head again, trying to focus, but his vision blurred at the edges. A sense of déjà vu struck him—he had felt something like this before, except now, it was stronger. He closed his eyes tightly, willing himself to focus. And as if fighting the surge of feeling was just too strong, the young champion chose to just "give in"—to see what would happen. Ash opened his eyes again and froze.

Energy. Blue flames of energy flickered and wavered around his friends, wrapping around them in translucent auras. The cave itself was webbed with streams of energy connecting the Tera Crystals together in a complex, spidery network.

"Whoa…" Ash muttered.

Clemont frowned. "What? What's happening?" He quickly checked his scanner, watching as the readings fluctuated wildly.

Ash blinked several times, watching as the energy signatures danced around his vision. "Nothing, I'm just… just seeing through you…"

It was true. He wasn't just seeing his surroundings—he was seeing beyond them, as though multiple realities were overlapping. He turned, marveling at the intricate strands of energy weaving through the cave, pulsing like veins carrying a living force. He couldn't help but smile slightly. "Cool…"

Then something flickered at the edge of his vision. A distortion, wavering like heat off pavement, but colder—unearthly. It pulsed once, a shifting glimmer, half-formed in the shadows, like the fractured reflection of something moving in the periphery. He spun around, heart pounding, but there was nothing there.

Then he heard it. A soft, eerie mewl.

His eyes widened. "Did you all hear that?!"

Everyone, except Pikachu, shook their heads. The Electric type's ears twitched, his fur bristling as he shivered involuntarily. A strange current ran through his body, faint but unmistakable, like a static charge crawling beneath his skin. His paws tingled as if the ground itself pulsed beneath him. He looked up at Ash, eyes widening in alarm—he wasn't just sensing his trainer's distress, he was feeling it as though Ash were pouring something into him. The same weight pressing against Ash's chest seemed to echo in Pikachu's own form, their bond amplifying whatever force was overtaking Ash. "Pika…?" he murmured, ears flattening.

Gary's expression tightened, noticing Pikachu's strange look. "Their eyes are glowing." Turning around to the others, the researcher jerked a thumb back at Ash and his Pokémon, "Are their eyes supposed to be glowing?"

Clemont, carefully, adjusted his scanner again. "Ash… are you carrying a Mega Stone right now?"

Ash blinked, confused. "No? And what do you mean my eyes are glowing?"

Brock's brow furrowed. "I don't like this…"

"Ash," Clemont's voice was edged with concern. "What are you physically feeling right now?"

Ash flexed his fist, shifting his weight. "I'm… I'm not sure…this didn't exactly happen last time…"

At least not to this degree. In the other Tera Cave, Ash hadn't felt the effects of being around the Tera Shards so quickly. Glancing around, the young champion wondered if there was something different about this particular cave. Or maybe he was just more aware now? He didn't know…

Clemont pulled out his Rotom Phone to assess what data Ash's BioSync was picking up, then back at Ash, his voice suddenly urgent. "Okay, well… your vitals are steadily increasing, and the BioSync is recording a massive build-up of…something…inside of you. I don't know how much your body can handle these conditions. It's almost like you're…"

Gary's expression darkened. "Sucking up the energy that's in this cave! You have to get a grip!"

The pressure in Ash's chest intensified. His legs felt unsteady. "Okay, well…" He wobbled slightly. "Any suggestions on how to do that?"

Clemont's voice was firm. "You need to let some of the energy go!"

Ash gritted his teeth. "Come… again…?" His breathing turned shallow. Pikachu didn't seem to be doing much better, gritting his teeth—cheeks sparking erratically—as he tried to handle the influx of energy he felt coming from his trainer.

Then Ash's legs buckled, and he collapsed onto one knee, gasping for air. His hand instinctively reached out to steady himself—his palm met the surface of a formation of Tera Crystals jutting out from the earth. The moment his skin made contact, a sharp, tingling sensation shot up his arm, like static surging through his nerves. A warmth spread from his fingertips, not comforting but searing, as though the crystal itself was alive and reacting to him. A deep vibration echoed through his bones, a silent hum that resonated in his chest, making his heartbeat feel like it was no longer his own. His vision blurred for a split second, the world around him flickering between reality and something else—something impossibly vast and ancient. A rush of thoughts, not his own, surged into his mind, but before he could grasp them, they were gone, leaving only a lingering pressure in his skull.

A pulse of raw energy burst from the crystal, rippling through the cave like a shockwave. The walls trembled, dust and shards loosening from the ceiling.

Everyone stared in stunned silence before slowly turning their gazes back to Ash.

"That works…" Gary deadpanned.

Ash took a deep breath, his body no longer feeling as heavy. The strange blue flames flickering in his vision dissipated, the web of energy threads fading. He steadied himself, waiting, unsure if it would return.

Pikachu, who had also seemed to recover—though looked exhausted—padded up to him, nudging him gently. "Pika…?"

"I'm okay, buddy." Ash offered a small, reassuring smile before gazing down at his partner with concern. "How are you doing?

Before Pikachu could respond, an ear-splitting roar filled the cavern, shaking the very foundation of the cave. The sound of wings beating against the air followed, sending a dark and chilling breeze across their faces.

Brock tensed. "Out of the frying pan and into the fryer…"

The air shifted. Luxray and Umbreon's ears twitched as a guttural growl echoed from the depths ahead. Whatever had been flying had landed. A sliver of light refracted off something metallic…

Claws.

A shadow stirred within the darkness, a looming presence shifting just beyond the reach of the flickering cave light. At first, it was only a ripple in the shadows, an indistinct mass that seemed to pulse with latent energy. Then, it stepped forward.

The crystal walls illuminated a pair of massive, crescent-shaped wings. The appendages, red like molten embers at their core, stretched outward in a wide arc, their jagged edges tipped with icy blue. Each beat of its wings sent ripples through the air, disturbing the loose shards of crystal on the cavern floor. Its powerful limbs, lined with razor-sharp claws, flexed with predatory intent, while the Pokémon's piercing crimson eyes burned with a hunger that sent shivers down their spines. The jagged silver helmet-like structure on its head gleamed under the shifting light, framing a mouth lined with serrated fangs. The air itself seemed to tighten around it, as though the cave was bending to its presence.

Above the Pokémon's head, a blazing winged crown shimmered, confirming its Terastallization.

Brock's voice was barely above a whisper. "A… Salamence?"

Gary's jaw tightened. "That's not a normal Salamence…"

Clemont's hands shook slightly as he gripped his scanner. "That… That's the Paradox Pokémon…"

Area Three, Eastern Province

The battlefield was still settling, the dust slowly drifting back to the ground as everyone tried to pick up the pieces. Orthworm, no longer massive and rampaging, now looked almost pitiful, its large, expressive eyes blinking at the group apologetically. It let out a low, warbling sound, bowing its head slightly as if trying to say sorry.

Goh wiped sweat from his brow, glancing at Grookey and Ghimmighoul, who were still clinging to his shoulders like they'd just survived an amusement park ride gone wrong. "Well, that was something."

Aliquis dusted off his pants, eyeing the exhausted Pokémon around them. "Understatement of the century."

"Well!" Nemona clapped her hands together, her adrenaline still buzzing and the relief of Bonnie turning out to be the only one unscathed made her almost giddy. "That wasn't so bad! We handled it like pros!"

Arven coughed. "Define handled." Though even he had to admit, that could have been way worse. The botanist let out a slow breath, still shaking sand out of his hair as he took stock of the group. His heart was still racing, but at least no one was hurt—not really. His eyes flickered over his friends, lingering on Bonnie, who was grinning ear to ear, completely unbothered by the fact that she had just been riding a Titan Pokémon moments ago. Nemona was beaming like they'd just won a championship match, Penny was adjusting her glasses with her usual unimpressed expression, and Goh was wiping dirt off his Cinderace like this was just another field experiment gone slightly off the rails.

Arven's grip tightened slightly on Mabosstiff's fur, his canine sitting beside him, looking just as drained. This could've gone way worse… and that would've been on me.

He hadn't wanted them to come in the first place. Hadn't wanted to drag them into his mess. And yet, here they were, laughing, brushing themselves off, making light of something that had nearly buried them all in an earthquake.

Arven swallowed, his chest tightening—not with panic this time, but something else. Relief, perhaps? Maybe even something closer to gratitude. He wasn't used to this—people having his back, people making reckless decisions with him instead of leaving him to deal with it alone.

"See?" Bonnie's voice cut through Arven's thoughts as she patted Orthworm's head gently. "We just needed to figure out what was wrong! Right, buddy?"

Orthworm nodded its head, making a soft, metallic clinking sound.

The group was just about to start figuring out their next move when a shadow suddenly seemed to block out the sun overhead.

"Prepare for trouble, and make it double—"

Jessie, James, and Meowth descended dramatically in their Meowth-shaped hot air balloon, striking exaggerated poses as they delivered their latest, unnecessarily long-winded motto.

"To take what we want now that the fight's done,
And claim all your Pokémon one by one!"

"To snatch every creature, big or small,
And prove that Team Rocket's the best of them all!"

"Jessie!"

"James!"

"And Meowth, that's right!
Now hand over your Pokémon without a fight!"

Silence.

Eri was the first to move, furrowing her brows. "Wait… is that a talking Meowth?"

Nemona opened her mouth, fully prepared to give some kind of explanation—then stopped, frowning slightly. "You know, I never noticed that."

Penny sighed. "Observation to nuances—not your thing."

Aliquis scratched his chin as if also contemplating this new development. "Okay, but are we going to get an explanation?"

Jessie flicked her hair over her shoulder. "Absolutely not. At this point, it's practically a metaphysical concept that—"

"Who are they again?" Carmen, still processing what was happening, cut in.

Bonnie huffed, standing in front of Orthworm and pointing dramatically at Team Rocket. "Go away, meanies! Ash isn't even here!"

Meowth snickered, leaning over the edge of the balloon's basket. "Yeah, and dat's why dis is da perfect time, kid! No twerpy interference means we get to take what we want, hassle-free!"

Jessie nodded. "That Orthworm was quite the spectacle, but since it's no longer towering over us like an iron skyscraper, we'll just have to make do with everything else!"

James sighed, clearly a little disappointed. "Yes, unfortunately, it seems our prize Pokémon has… shrunk."

"Small technicality," Jessie waved him off. "The point is—hand 'em over, now!"

Before Team Rocket could even begin their usual overly complicated capture plan, Eri's Annihilape, still seething from the battle, made his move. Without hesitation, he grabbed the heavy steel spike he had ripped from Orthworm earlier. His glowing fists clenched around the jagged metal before hurling it like a javelin straight at Team Rocket's balloon.

The steel spike whistled through the air.

THUNK!

The impact sent the balloon lurching wildly to one side. The fabric immediately began to rip, and the entire contraption spiraled into a chaotic, uncontrollable ascent.

"WHAAA—!"

The force knocked Jessie and James off balance, sending them tumbling into each other as Meowth frantically clung to the side of the basket.

"I knew we should've reinforced the basket!" James wailed.

"I told you we didn't have the budget!" Jessie shrieked, trying to keep herself from being flung overboard.

"That was only after you had your hair redyed!" James shot back.

"How dare you suggest—!"

Meowth's ears flattened as he gripped the edge. "Dis is why we don't mess wit' ghost monkeys!"

The balloon continued to ascend erratically, spinning wildly as it shot into the sky.

"TEAM ROCKET'S BLASTING OFF AGAAAAAIIIIINNN—!"

Ding!

The group watched as the balloon disappeared beyond the clouds, leaving nothing but a faint twinkle in the sky.

A long, heavy silence followed.

Goh exhaled and patted Cinderace on the shoulder. "Well… that was easy."

"Are they even legit criminals?" Aliquis frowned.

Penny adjusted her glasses and sniffed, "A bummer we'll never know about that Meowth…"

Eri just blinked, glancing at Annihilape, who was cracking his knuckles like he was waiting for the next round. She then grinned, and gave her Pokémon a thumbs up. "Nice aim."

Beside her leader, Carmen rubbed her temples. "This is legitimately the strangest, most frustrating day of my life."

Eri sighed, folding her arms. "Let's just focus on our problems first." She turned back toward Orthworm. "Now… what do we do with you?"

The Titan Pokémon tilted its head, blinking at them innocently.

Nemona, stretching her arms over her head, grinned. "Well, now we can finally finish the documentary footage. Team Star saves Paldea! Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

Penny sighed. "I am so tired."

As the conversation settled, Arven hesitated before stepping forward, shy and nervous. He shifted awkwardly, glancing at the others before focusing on Bonnie and Orthworm.

"If it's alright with you guys," Arven started, his voice still rough from the dust lingering in the air, "I need to ask Orthworm a few things." He hesitated, then turned fully to Eri and Carmen, his fingers twitching slightly at his sides. "The Academy's been researching why these Titan Pokémon grow so big. It has to do with a plant called the Herba Mystica. If Orthworm was feeding on it, then it probably knows where to find more." He exhaled, glancing toward the Titan. "I need to collect a sample… for research. To, er, study. At the lab."

He wasn't sure why he added the lab part—it just sounded more official. More believable.

Eri eyed him carefully, her gaze steady and unreadable. She wasn't the type to call someone out directly, but there was a sharpness to the way she studied him, like she was turning over a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit. She could sense there was more to his request than just research.

But after a moment, she nodded. "Yeah. Go ahead."

Arven exhaled, not realizing he'd been holding his breath. He nodded in thanks before stepping toward Orthworm, who blinked down at him with its large, curious eyes.

The others stood back, watching as Arven approached, his hands steady but his mind racing. His fingers curled around the strap of his bag, the weight of his mission heavy on his shoulders.

Mabosstiff padded up beside him, watching quietly. Arven reached down, rubbing its head absentmindedly.

The rest of the group watched in silence. Nemona, for once, wasn't grinning. Penny, arms crossed, seemed thoughtful. Eri kept her own arms folded, still watching him like she was trying to figure something out.

Carmen broke the quiet. "Well, don't take all day, botanist. We don't exactly have time for a field trip."

Bonnie was the only one who seemed to smile. "I don't think Orthworm will mind helping us," she then turned to the Steel type, "right?"

Orthworm nodded enthusiastically, seeming ready to make any amends it needed to.

Levincia

"Sylveon! Dazzling Gleam!"

The command rang out in the dimly lit training gym, the space illuminated by the shimmering glow of Sylveon's energy. Serena stood poised in the center of the arena, her eyes sharp, watching her Pokémon with the scrutiny of a performer perfecting her craft. The warehouse's multipurpose training space had been shown to them earlier in the evening—Tulip had mentioned that she sometimes used it to train with Iono, ensuring she never lost her edge even while occupied with business. Now, hours after dinner, when Serena found herself restless and unable to sleep, she had quietly slipped away to train.

Sylveon leaped gracefully into the air, her ribbons flowing behind her as she spun mid-move. With precise control, the Pokémon unleashed her Dazzling Gleam, beams of prismatic light spiraling outward in intricate, almost choreographed patterns, resembling a cascade of fireworks or the rippling waves of an aurora. The colors shimmered against the polished floors of the training hall, scattering iridescent reflections across the walls.

On the sidelines, Pancham clapped excitedly, Delphox nodded in quiet approval, and Feebas—resting in a small inflatable pool beside Serena—let out a soft, inquisitive chirp.

Serena smiled, allowing herself a small moment of satisfaction. Sylveon had been working hard to control the intensity and spread of the move, and tonight, it looked stunning.

She let out a deep breath, glancing toward the empty space where Tulip had given them the tour earlier. Lisia, May, and Dawn had gone back to their hotel, but even with the quiet, Serena couldn't shake the feeling of being underprepared. She hadn't been able to get a hold of Ash, and the weekend contest loomed ahead, making her stomach twist. Had she trained enough? Should she have done more in Pallet Town instead of relaxing?

"Fee? Fee?"

Serena turned, meeting the concerned gaze of Feebas, who blinked up at her from the water, its large eyes reflecting the soft glow of the gym's lights.

She hesitated, then forced a smile. "Oh, I'm fine, Feebas. Sorry. I guess it's just been a whirlwind being back."

Feebas didn't look convinced, but Serena motioned toward the rest of her team, who were still training. "Look," she said, shifting the subject, "Sylveon and Pancham are working on refining their movements for the contest battles."

Pancham was now mimicking Sylveon's elegant spins, trying to block the Fairy-type's attacks with Arm Thrusts that broke apart the gleaming spirals like clouds of sparkling dust. It was a work in progress, but the playful determination in the little Fighting-type's eyes made Serena smile.

Feebas watched, eyes wide with curiosity.

Serena turned to Delphox, who stood stoically by her side, twirling her flaming branch between her fingers. "Think you're up for a little training too?"

Delphox lifted her head slightly before giving a silent nod, her flames flickering as she prepared herself.

A new voice broke through the quiet.

"Perhaps we can assist?"

Serena turned to see Tulip entering the gym, her Espathra gliding beside her, its piercing gaze flickering over the room. Tulip carried herself with effortless grace, one hand on her hip while the other casually twirled a Poké Ball.

"You were quiet at dinner," Tulip noted, her lavender eyes settling on Serena.

Serena exhaled slowly. "I had a lot on my mind."

Tulip hummed, as if unsurprised, before her gaze drifted down to Feebas, her lips quirking with curiosity. "That is an interesting Pokémon."

Serena brightened, glancing down at her newest partner. "That's my new teammate!" She gave Feebas an encouraging look. "We're going to make her an amazing performer in no time."

Feebas let out a happy chirp, splashing its tail excitedly.

Tulip's expression softened slightly. "You are very interesting, Serena. I am not often surprised, but you surprise me." With a glance toward Espathra, she nodded toward the other side of the field. "Come, it seems we both can't sleep. We might as well be productive, no?"

Serena smiled, her energy returning as she clenched a fist. "Let's do it!"

Soon enough, Serena and Tulip stood opposite each other in the dimly lit training gym, the soft hum of the overhead lights casting elongated shadows across the polished floor. Espathra and Delphox faced each other, both poised, their eyes locked in a silent battle of focus before the first move was even called.

Serena took a steady breath. "Delphox, let's start with Mystical Fire!"

Delphox twirled her flaming branch between her fingers before thrusting it forward, summoning a spiraling burst of violet flames. The attack crackled through the air, the embers flickering like fireflies.

Tulip lifted a delicate hand. "Quick Attack."

Espathra moved like a blur, her long legs carrying her across the battlefield with breathtaking speed. The fire barely singed her feathers as she wove through the attack, closing the gap between her and Delphox in an instant.

Serena studied the way Espathra moved and nodded as if catching on to a rhythm to the Ostrich Pokémon's movements. Just as Espathra was about to collide with Delphox, Serena clenched her fist. "Psychic! Now!"

Delphox's eyes glowed with a brilliant blue sheen as she thrust her free hand forward. A wave of psychic energy erupted from her, stopping Espathra in her tracks and pushing her back slightly.

Tulip smirked, nodding approvingly. "Good reaction time. But can you handle this?" She flicked her wrist. "Shadow Ball."

Espathra's eyes pulsed with dark energy as a swirling orb of shadows materialized between her beak. She launched it forward with incredible precision.

"Counter with Fire Spin!" Serena called.

Delphox twirled her branch again, summoning a vortex of fire in front of her. The flames spiraled upward, colliding with the Shadow Ball mid-air. The two attacks exploded upon impact, scattering glowing embers and dark wisps across the field.

Tulip arched a brow, impressed. "Not bad. You have great instinctive counters. But battles are just as much about pacing as they are about power."

Serena nodded, adjusting her stance. She knew Tulip was right—contests required seamless execution, not just brute force. She had to make every move look effortless.

"Let's refine it," Tulip continued. "Espathra, Psychic."

Espathra's eyes gleamed as waves of energy pulsed outward, bending the air around them.

"Meet it with Hidden Power!"

Delphox stomped her foot, sending out a cluster of glowing white orbs that shot forward in rapid succession. The two attacks collided in the middle of the field, swirling together in a chaotic display before dissipating.

Tulip crossed her arms, a smirk playing at her lips. "Stay elegant. You have strong control over Delphox's abilities, but you must be more graceful transitioning between attacks. I want to see more—more precision, more polish. If you want to stand out in Paldea's contest circuit, you'll need to make every move feel intentional, not reactionary."

Serena exhaled, absorbing the critique. "Got it. Let's try again."

The battle continued, with Serena fine-tuning her approach under Tulip's guidance. Each exchange became more fluid, more controlled. Delphox moved with increasing grace, her Fire Spin shifting from a wild spiral into a ribbon-like coil of flames.

Meanwhile, Tulip's Espathra remained a formidable opponent, its psychic energy moving like water, seamlessly adapting to each change in Serena's strategy.

Feebas, from her small inflatable pool, watched with wide, admiring eyes. The little fish Pokémon let out an excited chirp with every successful maneuver, practically shimmering with inspiration.

After several rounds, both Pokémon showed signs of fatigue, their breathing heavy, flames and psychic energy flickering less intensely.

Tulip gracefully flicked her wrist. "That's enough for now."

Serena called Delphox back to her side, offering her a gentle pat on the head. Tulip did the same with Espathra, looking down at her Poké Ball with a satisfied smirk.

"You are more than ready to shine in Paldea's contests, Serena," she mused, tucking the Poké Ball back into her purse with practiced elegance. "So if you are worried about that, you shouldn't be."

Serena let out a breath, offering a small smile in return. The battle had helped ease some of her anxiety, but she still felt the weight of everything ahead. She glanced at Delphox, who only looked more determined than ever.

Then, curiosity struck her. "Why couldn't you sleep?"

Tulip sighed, her lavender lashes fluttering lazily before she finally answered. "La política…"

Serena frowned. "Come again?"

Tulip's expression darkened slightly, her usual air of effortless confidence giving way to something more thoughtful. "As you know, I support Mesagoza's governor, Isabel de Castilla, and I am campaigning for her reelection. However, she's losing support, primarily because La Primera is not around to endorse her. And now Geeta has been proclaimed missing. The Gym Leaders are concerned. Tera Industries grows more powerful. We fear we might not know what is going on in our own region."

Serena deflated slightly. "I understand…"

And she really did. She was over the politics of things—of performances, of titles, of perception. It seemed like no matter how much she just wanted to focus on improving, there was always something outside of her control trying to shape the narrative. In Kalos, it had been Palermo's expectations, the constant media attention, the scrutiny over every decision she made as Kalos Queen. Now, in Paldea, it was different but no less suffocating. The weight of competing against Dawn, of proving herself as more than just "Ash's girlfriend," of managing expectations for both her contest career and her Showcase reign—it all felt tangled together, impossible to separate.

Was this just part of growing up?

The politics of performing, of Coordinating, of status and power—it followed her everywhere, whether she wanted it to or not. And for Ash? For the Monarch of the world?

She exhaled at the thought. If she felt burdened by expectations, she couldn't even imagine how much heavier it must be for him. Everything he did was—or soon would be—scrutinized. His victories weren't just his anymore—they were the world's victories. His choices weren't just personal—they would be weighed, analyzed, debated. He had spent so much of his life chasing battles for the pure love of it, but now? Now he had to navigate a world where every move mattered in regards to the balance of power.

She hated it for him.

She hated that he had to deal with the pressure. That he had to think about his every move. That he had to stand at the center of everything when all he had ever wanted to do was battle, explore, and be free.

And if Ash had to navigate all of that, then wasn't it her job to be strong enough to stand beside him?

Tulip nodded, sensing the weight of Serena's thoughts. A brief silence passed between them before the gym leader suddenly straightened, as if remembering something.

"Ah. I almost forgot." She reached elegantly into her purse and pulled out a dark, spherical object, holding it delicately between her fingers.

Serena raised an eyebrow before her eyes widened. "A Tera Orb? For me?!"

Tulip's lips curved. "Claro. Every trainer in Paldea should have one."

She handed the cool, onyx orb to Serena, who held it carefully in both hands.

"But… are they even allowed in contests?"

Tulip's eyes sparkled knowingly. "Not until the Grand Festival. However, I suggest you start practicing. I'm sure your friend Dawn—and the other foreign Coordinators—will obtain one sooner or later. They are more difficult to acquire these days than expected." She leaned in slightly, voice lowering conspiratorially. "But you, my dear, have been here longer than they have. And I think you've proven yourself more than deserving of a Paldean blessing. Buena suerte."

Serena clutched the orb to her chest, her heart swelling with gratitude. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"

Tulip tilted her head with regal humility before turning toward the exit. "Now get some rest." Her eyes gleamed. "We go into the den of wolves tomorrow."

Serena exhaled, glancing down at the Tera Orb one last time. Then, with newfound determination, she nodded.

Area Two, East Province

"Okay, so…what's the plan…?" Gary muttered just before the Paradox Salamence let out another deafening roar, its massive, bladed wings flaring wide as it locked onto Ash and the group.

Clemont's scanner surged with unreadable data, the device sparking in his hand as it struggled to process the erratic fluctuations—sweat beading on his forehead. "It's reacting to the Tera Energy in the cave—harnessing it to activate some kind of hidden ability!" He then turned swiftly to the others, "I have a feeling this Pokémon's attack power and speed are increasing by the second!"

Gary stepped forward, his Umbreon poised and ready, its rings glowing faintly in the dim light. "Whatever it's doing, we need to stop it before it powers up too much!"

Brock nodded, his Croagunk leaping into a defensive stance. "No time to strategize. Let's move before it turns this cave into a disaster zone!"

Ash pushed himself up, still unsteady, but instinctively stepping in front of his team. Pikachu, despite his own exhaustion, also sparked in response, electricity dancing across one cheek to the other.

The Salamence moved with terrifying speed, a blur of red and blue as it launched itself forward with Dragon Rush. The sheer force of its charge sent a shockwave through the cavern, forcing everyone to scatter. The impact crushed the ground where they had just been standing, sending shards of broken crystal flying in all directions.

"Pikachu, start with Electroweb!" Ash called out, dodging some of the falling debris. "Let's catch his attention!"

"Pika!" The Electric type darted forward, his entire body glowing before releasing a large electrified web toward the Paradox Pokémon, aiming to restrict its movement. The net expanded and crackled, but the dragon snarled, its tail whipping through the web. Sparks flew as the remnants of the net disintegrated around it, leaving the beast unhindered.

"Now Gary!" Ash shouted. He had seen Gary and Umbreon flanking the dragon, and had noticed Salamance shaking its head—still a little dazed from the bright light of Pikachu's net.

"Yup!" the researcher nodded, dashing away from Salamence's wildly swinging tail. "Umbreon, Foul Play!"

With a deep growl, the Dark type's red eyes gleamed in the dim light as a soft, bluish-purple glow emanated from his body around his rings and head. A beam of energy then rippled outward, locking onto the Salamence and pressing against it with an unseen force. The Paradox Pokémon recoiled, part of its terastallized shell cracking—even if minisculely—under the crushing pressure.

Its eyes flickered with raw fury as it fought back against the mental hold, pushing through the energy field with sheer physical might. It retaliated with Night Slash, claws glowing with dark energy as it slashed forward in a vicious arc, aiming to cut through the force restraining it.

"Watch out!" Clemont shouted as the dragon lunged at Gary and Umbreon.

Ash reacted instantly. "Pikachu! Iron Tail!"

Pikachu met the attack head-on, his glowing steel tail clashing against the darkened claws. A moment of tension filled the air, sparks bursting in all directions. Then, an explosion of energy erupted, sending everyone off their feet.

When the smoke cleared, Brock, still coughing from the debris, tried to seize the moment. "Croagunk, use Poison Jab!"

Croagunk lunged with precision, his fist glowing a sickly purple as he struck the Salamence's terastallized hide. The attack landed with a sharp crack, but the dragon barely flinched. In fact, it only seemed to call its attention back to the battle at hand.

It hissed, its claws gleaming, and lashed out with another Dragon Rush—checking Croagunk with its enormous chest, sending the Toxic Mouth Pokémon skidding across the rocky ground and into the cavern wall.

"Croagunk!" Brock rushed over to check on his partner.

Meanwhile, Clemont gritted his teeth before meeting the gaze of his Luxray. "If this Pokémon's drawing power from the cave, so can we! Activate Electric Terrain!"

The battlefield began to emit a soft, electric blue glow as power surged through the ground.

"Good thinking, Clemont!" Ash grinned past the newly formed cut on his lip and glanced at Pikachu with a smirk.

Pushing his glasses farther up the bridge of his nose, Clemont nodded. "Luxray, Wild Charge!"

"Pikachu!" Ash chimed in, "Thunderbolt!"

The Electric mouse sent out a loud cry as a massive, jagged bolt of lightning shot from his cheeks, a thunder-like boom echoing across the caver when the bolt struck Salamence's Terastal shell.

At the same time, Luxray roared as bolts of yellow energy exploded around him. He then charged forward, slamming into the Paradox Pokémon just as Pikachu's own attack hit. Sparks danced across the dragon's body, briefly halting its advance, and drawing a larger crack from its crystal exterior.

Ash clenched his fists. He could feel another surge of pent-up energy rising, his breathing growing short and labored. He noticed Pikachu shaking his head multiple times as if also being affected. This time, Ash decided to take out his Tera Orb, hoping that giving Pikachu a little support might help. He figured with the Electric Terrain and the boost in his Terastal Form, Piakchu's attacks might do more damage.

"Pikachu! Let's power up!" Ash gritted his teeth, throwing the Tera Orb above his partner.

Pikachu nodded before the effects of the orb rained down on him, encasing him in glowing, crystalline energy. The light shimmered and swirled around him, forming a protective cocoon of golden electricity. As the transformation took hold, his body became outlined in crackling energy, his fur standing on end as if charged with raw power. The gemstone atop his head grew larger, its facets glowing intensely, shifting between bright gold and streaks of brilliant gold. His form radiated a pulsating aura, sending arcs of electricity skittering across the rocky cavern floor.

Ash blinked away the blurring edges of his vision and caught sight of the Paradox Salamence charging up an attack from its mouth—a Dragon Pulse—he figured, about to blast it directly at Luxray and Umbreon who had moved over to protect a struggling Croagunk.

Flipping his cap backwards, Ash's gaze narrowed. "Pikachu! Quick Attack and redirect that attack!"

Pikachu let out a sharp, determined cry—"Pika, pika!"—his Terastallized form crackling with golden energy. Then, in an instant, he moved.

A beam of light dashed around at lightning speeds, leaving behind trails of electric sparks and jagged bolts in his wake. Pikachu blurred from one point to another, his body a streak of radiance, a force moving too fast for the eye to follow. With pinpoint precision, he closed the gap, a surge of power gathering at his core as he rocketed toward Salamence's gaping maw.

The instant Pikachu collided with its jaw, the force snapped the dragon's head sideways, sending its Dragon Pulse veering wildly off course. The energy blast shot past Gary, Clemont, and Brock, smashing into the cave wall instead. The explosion rocked the cavern, shaking loose dust and debris. The ground trembled beneath them.

Brock grimaced, shielding Croagunk with an arm. "I don't like this…"

Chunks of rock tumbled down from the ceiling. The groaning sound of shifting stone filled the air.

Gary's jaw clenched. He cast a wary glance at Ash, then back at the towering dragon. "We need to end this fast."

Ash, still struggling to stay upright, grit his teeth. "We need to…" His vision blurred. His breaths were coming too fast. His limbs felt unsteady, his body too light, too disconnected. "…We need to break Salamence's Tera Shell."

The words barely made it past his lips before his knees nearly buckled. His fingers dug into the rock at his side, trying to ground himself. He swallowed back the dizziness and pressed a hand against a nearby Tera Shard embedded in the cave wall, hoping—desperate—that it would help offset the energy pulsing inside him.

Nothing happened.

The cold sweat ont the back of his neck grew colder.

"Ash?" Clemont called, concern lacing his voice, but before he could step forward, he had to yell for Luxray to dodge another incoming Dragon Rush.

Ash forced himself to focus, to look up at Pikachu.

His partner, still Terastallized, didn't appear as exhausted as before. In fact, Pikachu looked—stronger. His form was fluctuating, his energy building. Sparks danced wildly around him, his cheeks glowing, his body vibrating with barely contained power. And when the Electric mouse moved to shield Luxray from Salamence's attack with his own Terastallized body, he held his ground—though part of his Electric shell cracked.

That's when Ash felt it. A pull.

It was the same pull he had felt before—in that first Tera Cave when he'd called on Pikachu to use his Z-move without a Z-ring. But this time, he felt like he could do even more. A surge of energy erupted from his chest, flowing outward. He couldn't stop it. Pikachu's crystalline form, once a bright golden yellow, shifted—turning into a blinding electric blue.

"Pika—CHU!" Pikachu roared, his entire form blazing with blue-white lightning. Any chips in his Tera Shell vanished.

Gary cursed, throwing an arm over his eyes. "Arceus—what's happening?!"

Clemont barely managed to avert his gaze in time, his mind racing to comprehend what he was seeing. He turned to Ash—and his breath caught.

The Tera Orb in Ash's hands was glowing. Not just glowing—feeding energy in a strange, continuous stream.

"He's…" Clemont's voice caught, eyes wide behind his glasses. "He's recharging his own Tera Orb…"

Then, suddenly, Ash blinked. His mind cleared. The weight that had been pressing on him vanished. His breathing evened. He felt light, steady.

But something in him knew—he didn't have much time.

"Pikachu!" he shouted, his voice unwavering. "Electroweb!"

Pikachu didn't even need to move.

Electricity surged from the ground—white and blue energy pulsing outward, snaking through the battlefield. The terrain itself responded, as if Pikachu had tapped into something deeper, something beyond his usual limits.

The web formed instantly, enormous, crackling with raw power. It expanded and shot forward, swallowing Salamence in an endless weave of lightning.

The Paradox Pokémon let out a snarl, twisting violently, trying to shake free. But the web constricted. Every time a claw tore through a strand, another latched onto its limbs. The more it struggled, the tighter the bonds grew, the more they burned against its crystallized hide.

Then, the moment of impact.

The web squeezed and squeezed and—

CRACK.

The Tera Shell shattered.

A deafening roar tore through the cavern as Salamence's body convulsed. Shards of crystal exploded outward, fragments scattering like falling stars, the once-impenetrable armor fracturing and breaking away. The sheer force of it sent another tremor through the cave, dust and rock raining from the ceiling.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, Brock let out a slow breath. His eyes traced the remains of the broken Tera Shell, then flicked toward Pikachu, whose glow was finally beginning to fade.

"Incredible."

Gary took a step back, eyes flicking between the pulsing, chaotic mass of energy swirling around the Paradox Salamence and the jagged cracks forming in the cave's walls. "Uh, guys…"

The dragon thrashed, its massive wings slicing the air as dark energy erupted from its body in erratic bursts. The air around it warped, twisting under the force of its sheer rage. Its crimson eyes burned with unnatural fury, the veins of black lightning threading through its Terastal shell surging wildly, tendrils of dark power licking at the cave walls. The beast slammed into a rock formation, sending fractured boulders tumbling around them, cracks webbing across the ceiling.

Clemont's scanner flared with error messages, beeping wildly in his hand. "If that thing uses Outrage, it's going to bury us here!"

Brock's voice was tense. "We have to go!"

But Ash didn't move.

While the others were caught in the frenzied terror of the moment, Ash stood rooted in place, eyes fixed on Pikachu, his breathing slow—measured. The world around him felt distant, like the rushing water of a river muffled by the depths below. Yup, he had felt this before—the unshakable clarity, the sense that everything around him had slowed to a crawl. The first time had been with Greninja. Then with Lucario. Then again, to a lesser degree with Pikachu—the first time they were in a Tera Cave.

But this was something else. Whatever this was, it was getting stronger. Ash had the distinct sense that if he wanted to, he could have cast out this line of connection with any of the Pokémon in this cave. All he had to do was throw his own line out and latch on to any of the hundreds of streams of power he could feel.

And now, the energy wasn't just wild—it was guiding itself through him. His skin tingled with residual static, his fingers buzzing, his limbs weak. Pikachu was moving with that same force now, drawing from the Tera Energy pulsing all around them, linked to Ash in a way that sent an unfamiliar charge through his body.

Ash exhaled, barely above a whisper. "Pikachu… we need to destabilize that attack."

The Paradox Salamence reared back, its wings stretched impossibly wide, the air distorting around it as the chaotic force of its Outrage began to spiral outward.

Ash's voice dropped lower, more certain. "Let's use Salamence's storm against itself. Thunderbolt."

"Pika—CHUUU!"

The force of Pikachu's Thunderbolt didn't just strike—it exploded. Bolts of blue lightning branched outward in fractal patterns, splitting into countless tendrils that lashed through the air. The electricity met the dark storm of the dragon's energy head-on, intertwining, colliding in violent bursts of radiant light and deep-shadowed force.

The battlefield became a swirling vortex of dark chaos and searing blue electricity. Pikachu's Thunderbolt wove through the wild energy, snaking around it, forcing its unstable tendrils to bend and coil upon themselves. Where the two forces met, sparks and shockwaves erupted, sending violent ripples through the cave.

The storm of darkness twisted, writhing as if in agony. The once-ferocious Outrage was no longer expanding outward, no longer threatening to consume the entire cave. Instead, it was being drawn inward, contained within a tightening web of blue-white electricity.

The cavern rumbled beneath their feet, loose rocks tumbling down as tremors snaked up the walls.

Brock clenched his fists, eyes darting toward the falling debris. "This cave isn't gonna hold much longer!"

But Ash barely registered the words.

He couldn't lose focus.

Not for a second.

The moment his concentration wavered, the moment he let go, Pikachu would lose control. He would lose control.

And Pikachu… Pikachu was still drawing from him.

The energy surged through their link, feeding into his partner as if Ash himself was a conduit for the Tera Energy. His arms felt impossibly heavy. His breaths grew shorter. The cold sweat at his nape spread down his spine.

And then, all at once, the vortex collapsed.

A final bolt of lightning arced through the storm, swallowing it whole. For a single, blinding second, the cave was illuminated as though by the sun itself.

Then, darkness. Silence.

The air hummed with residual static.

A single breath passed.

The smoke began to clear.

And there, before them, stood the Paradox Pokémon.

Its body was frozen in place, its Terastal shell shattered completely, its limbs locked up by the sheer force of electricity that had coursed through it.

It didn't roar. It didn't struggle.

It was utterly paralyzed.

Gary let out a slow, disbelieving breath. "That… is crazy…"

Clemont's Rotom Phone blared suddenly, flashing urgent red. "Ash!" he cried out, "Your vitals are crashing out!"

Ash staggered. His vision flickered.

Then, his body gave out.

His knee hit the stone floor first, then his hands, the Tera Orb slipping from his grasp, clattering against the rock. The glow faded instantly.

Pikachu's Tera Shell shattered.

The Electric-type let out a confused cry, his eyes darting back toward his trainer just in time to see Ash collapse completely.

"Pika!" Pikachu rushed forward, pressing against Ash's chest, his ears flicking in distress.

Ash's fingers twitched. His voice was barely there. "The Pokémon… Salamence…"

Brock's expression hardened. He tore his gaze away from Ash for just a moment, eyes flicking toward the Paradox Pokémon. Its breath was labored, its body trembling under the weight of its injuries.

"We don't have much time," the Pokédoctor muttered. "That thing won't be paralyzed forever."

A new voice cut through the tense silence.

"Move out of the way."

Everyone, except Ash, turned sharply. A figure emerged deeper into the cave, stepping over fractured stone and crackling Tera Shards. The figure's hood was pulled low, their cloak shifting in the dim light as they moved with unsettling ease. At their side, an Alakazam hovered silently, its twin spoons humming with residual psychic energy. The cave's atmosphere thickened under its presence, as if reality itself was warping at the edges.

In the hooded trainer's hand, an Ultra Ball glowed—primed and ready.

Without hesitation, the figure flicked their wrist. The Ultra Ball soared forward, cutting through the heavy air before striking the Paradox Pokémon's still-paralyzed body. The Paradox Pokémon let out a final, guttural snarl as red light engulfed it, pulling its massive form inside the device.

The Ultra Ball hit the cavern floor with a dull clack.

Then, it shook.

Once.

Twice.

Then it went still.

After a moment, the Ultra Ball lifted off the ground, rising back toward its owner. No wasted movement, no hesitation—the hooded trainer caught it effortlessly, fingers tightening around their prize.

Gary's voice sliced through the cavern, sharp with recognition. "It's you!" His stance shifted, his fists clenched, body poised as if ready for a fight. "You were the one after the Miraidon!"

Beside him, Brock stiffened. "Gary!" A warning.

But Gary barely heard him. His body was already thrumming with adrenaline, already reaching for his Poké Ball—until something else stole his attention.

A sound.

A strangled gasp.

Gary's head snapped back to Ash.

The champion's body was trembling, his face pale—too pale. His breathing was erratic, his lips parting as though he wanted to speak, but nothing came. Then, his limbs convulsed. His back arched violently before he collapsed fully onto the cold stone floor.

His entire body seized.

Clemont's voice wavered, his mind scrambling for explanations. "What's happening?!" His panicked gaze flicked to Brock.

The hooded trainer—calm, emotionless—spoke with terrifying certainty. "He's going into cardiac arrest."

Brock's hands were already moving. "Damn it—they're right. We need to act fast!"

He snapped to the others, barking orders like they were back in a battlefield. "Clemont! Keep his airway open, make sure his tongue doesn't block his breathing! Gary, get a pulse if you can. Pikachu—" he turned to the Electric-Type, who looked wild with panic, sparks erratically flashing from his cheeks. "I need you to listen to me, buddy. We need controlled shocks. Not a full Thunderbolt—small bursts, like a defibrillator, got it?"

Pikachu whined but nodded, crouching over his trainer with tense focus.

Gary had dropped to his knees beside Ash, his fingers pressing against his friend's wrist. His own hands were shaking, but he forced himself to focus. "Pulse is weak, barely there!" His voice cracked. "He's not breathing right—!"

"Okay," Brock inhaled sharply. "We're going on my count—Pikachu, first shock now!"

"Pika—CHU!"

Electricity surged forward, small but sharp. Ash's body jerked at the pulse, but he didn't regain consciousness.

"Again!"

Zap.

Ash's chest heaved. His fingers twitched.

"Once more!"

Pikachu, trembling, gritted his teeth before releasing one final controlled pulse.

Ash gasped. His entire body convulsed, then—suddenly—he collapsed fully, going limp.

The cave fell into silence.

Then, shallow breathing.

Brock's hands hovered over Ash's chest, his own breaths coming fast. His fingers sought another pulse.

It was there. Weak, but steady.

He exhaled, sitting back slightly. "He's stable—for now."

Pikachu collapsed onto Ash's chest, whimpering.

The hooded trainer stepped closer, gaze flickering over Ash's still form. "He needs medical attention immediately." Their voice remained infuriatingly calm. "Come. We need to move fast before others notice this cave."

"Others?" Clemont blurted, clearly overwhelmed.

But Gary wasn't done. His blood was still running hot, his nerves fried from the sheer chaos of the last few minutes. He whirled back to the trainer, eyes blazing. "We're not leaving this cave until you hand back that Salamence!"

Clemont jolted, his voice pitched with warning. "Gary, don't—"

"No!" Gary snapped, rounding on him. His face was wild, eyes burning with something unreadable. "This trainer is either working for Tera Industries or—" He hesitated. His jaw locked. "Or worse."

His glare snapped back to the hooded figure. "We can't let them take another powerful Pokémon."

Brock finally stood, his hands sore from pressing against Ash's chest. His voice came low. "Who are you?"

The trainer didn't hesitate. With a single, fluid motion, they reached up—gripping the edge of their hood and pulled it back.

Everyone froze.

Gary's breath hitched. Clemont's Rotom Phone, still clutched in his trembling fingers, blinked with a weak error message.

The flickering cavern light caught on her face—sharp, regal, unmistakable.

Geeta.

She met their stunned gazes without flinching.

"I'll explain as much as I can," she said, her voice as steady as steel.

Then, her violet eyes flicked back to Ash, lying still against the cavern floor, his breathing weak.

"But right now," her tone sharpened, "the Monarch does not have the luxury of time."

The weight of her words slammed into them all.

For half a second—no one moved.

Then, everyone did.

Area Three, Eastern Province

The hike back to the Team Star camp was much quieter than the journey to the mines, though not for lack of energy. The group was exhausted but in high spirits—well, most of them. Orthworm, now significantly smaller and no longer rampaging, had decided it wasn't done with its new friends and had taken a particular liking to Bonnie. The former Titan slithered along beside her, its bulbous eyes blinking with what could only be described as adoration. Bonnie, delighted, skipped beside it, Dedenne perched on her head like a proud navigator.

Arven walked a few paces behind everyone, securing the sample of Herba Mystica in his bag, his mind racing. Orthworm had led him straight to a hidden patch of the plant, just as he had hoped. But now that he actually had it, he felt strangely uneasy. Maybe it was just exhaustion. Maybe it was…well, the guilt.

Eri fell into step beside him and finally broke the silence. "So what exactly is the Academy doing with the Herba Mystica again?"

Arven glanced at her before shifting his eyes to Penny, who was already looking at him like she knew there was more to the story than he was letting on. "Uh…like I said. Research," he offered, a little too unconvincingly.

Penny raised an eyebrow but let it slide—for now.

Nemona stretched her arms above her head and yawned, looking over at Eri. "Speaking of the Academy, now that we've helped you with the little Titan situation, maybe we can talk about Team Star's documentary?" she grinned, wiggling her eyebrows.

"You do realize 'little Titan situation' is an oxymoron…" Aliquis grumbled into a bonbon.

Ignoring him, Nemona pressed. "I know you said things were complicated because some squads weren't getting along…but that still doesn't mean we can't try to tell the whole truth about Team Star!"

Eri sighed, twisting a finger through her platinum wig locks. "You are persistent. I'll give you that…"

"Which squads are arguing, though?" Penny asked gently, as if trying to seem nonchalant. "Seems like Team Star's always been a pretty unified front. How did…what made them start to…I don't know. Fight?"

Eri's expression darkened slightly. "If you really must know—and I guess it's fine that you do; if anything we can certainly trust you all now…," the Caph Squad leader hesitated and then blew out a long breath, "It's the Navi and Ruchbah Squads—really Ruchbach…They're the reason things have been getting worse."

Penny paled and tried to control her expression though her lips fell into a frown. "Worse how?"

Eri sighed, glancing at her Annihilape and Carmen before continuing. "Like I said before, Team Star was originally supposed to be a safe place for students who were bullied. A way to protect ourselves. But some squads…or a particular squad leader—Ortega—didn't just want safety. They wanted payback."

Penny's face fell. "Wait… you're telling me Ortega turned some squads into bullies?"

"Ortega as in Violet Academy's Blitz captain, Ortega!?" Nemona nearly screeched and suddenly looked furious. "The Ortega that was our best forward until he decided to leave the school just because he couldn't be captain at Scarlet Academy?" She was about to say more when she stopped short at seeing Penny's own reaction. "Wait. How do you know Ortega?"

"Ortega never left Scarlet Academy because he couldn't be captain of the Blitz team." Eri snorted. "Nah, he was one of the only Team Star members with direct evidence against them after Operation Starfall, and he was asked to withdraw or else be expelled. Of course, his only other option was to go to Violet Academy. In fact, Ruchbach and Navi Squads make up most of Violet Academy's Team Star members," Eri tapped her chin as if trying to recall all the details, but she shrugged. "Either way, Ortega was not happy that Scarlet Academy didn't honor the Big Boss's promise to have all of Team Star exonerated, so instead of just lying low, he started egging certain squads into going after Scarlet Academy students—badgering them, harassing them, acting like they run the place."

Penny looked genuinely stunned. "What?! But…but Team Star were never meant to be bullies!"

"Well," Aliquis muttered, "turns out some of them turned out to be."

Eri crossed her arms. "We used to meet as bosses every month. But after last summer, everything started falling apart. Squads stopped agreeing on what Team Star should be, and Ruchbach Squad started doing whatever they wanted. Now, they've basically gone rogue. Navi's not far behind them, though Atticus would really rather just keep to himself…"

Penny clenched her fists. "This is… really not good."

Eri sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Yeah. Which is why I wasn't sure about your documentary. I don't want Team Star getting lumped together when most of us are trying to fix things, and some…are making it worse."

Penny frowned but nodded. "I get it. But," her glasses flashed as she looked ahead, "the truth might still be worth telling."

Eri didn't respond immediately, but something in her expression shifted—like she was actually considering it now.

Carmen crossed her arms, her brows furrowed. "I don't know. Like Eri said, it's complicated. And people don't like complicated."

Eri turned to her, her voice softer. "Carmen…"

Aliquis, who had been walking with his hands in his pockets contemplating everything they'd just heard, suddenly snapped his fingers, realization dawning on him. His eyes widened as he turned to Carmen, pointing at her dramatically.

"Wait! I know you!" he exclaimed. "You were Class Queen my freshman year! Before Eri swooped in and stole your crown! Aha! I knew I recognized you!"

Nemona gasped, as if she'd just put the pieces together herself. "That's right!"

Carmen paled, her usual sharp demeanor faltering for the first time.

Eri, however, just smiled at her encouragingly. "It's okay! You have a great story."

Carmen deflated, her shoulders slumping. She exhaled sharply, almost ashamed. "How can you say that?"

Eri shrugged. "Well, we became best friends in the end, didn't we?"

Carmen looked at the ground, her jaw tightening before she finally sighed. "Truth is… I used to hate Riri." She glanced at the others. "She's an amazing trainer, an incredible athlete—and she's beautiful, as you all know. It took her no time at all to become popular at the Academy. I was Class Queen before she came along, but then everyone liked her more than me..."

She let out a bitter chuckle. "So I started bullying her. Got some of our classmates to join in, too. We were all so stupid. But in the end, kids are fickle. Once one thrill wears off, they look for something new. And before long? I became the next target. The class turned on me. I guess I deserved it."

She swallowed, her voice quieter now. "But then Riri… she chose to help me. Even after everything I did to her. She told me she understood how hard it is to have no one on your side. And she invited me into Team Star."

Carmen paused, a rare vulnerability flickering across her face. "And joining the team? It's been the best thing that's ever happened to me. It's been fun. It gave me a second chance. Riri and the rest of Team Star made me who I am today." She looked up, eyes sharp with conviction. "Please… don't take away our greatest treasure."

Nemona grinned, stepping forward. "Take Eri away? No way! We just want her—and even you!—to tell the story about why Team Star started to begin with! I mean, you went from being a bully to being bullied! People need to hear that!"

Carmen huffed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Yeah, well… people change."

But something about the conversation seemed to weigh on Eri. She slowed her steps slightly, her gaze drifting downward.

Carmen noticed immediately. "You okay?"

Eri sighed, looking up at her friend. "You know… if you can change, maybe other people can too."

Carmen raised an eyebrow. "Where's this coming from?"

Eri exhaled slowly, glancing between Carmen and the rest of the group. "…I'll do it."

Penny, who had been silently watching, perked up. "Do what?"

Eri turned to Nemona, then back to Carmen, her voice steady. "The documentary. I'll do the video."

Nemona's eyes went wide with excitement. "Wait, really?!"

Eri nodded. "Yeah. I was hesitant before, but…maybe people do need to know why Team Star began in the first place—maybe that is how we bring change."

Nemona practically vibrated with excitement. "YES! This is gonna be amazing!"

Penny smirked. "Gotta admit, didn't think you'd agree."

Eri chuckled. "Neither did I."

Carmen just shook her head, crossing her arms with an exasperated though resigned sigh. "Don't make me regret convincing you."

Eri smiled, nudging her lightly. "Wouldn't dream of it."

The group continued their journey back toward camp, the setting sun casting a golden glow over the rugged landscape. Orthworm happily slithered behind them, sticking close to Bonnie as if it had already chosen its new home.

For the first time in a long time, Eri felt like maybe—just maybe—things were finally heading in the right direction.

Author's Notes: Okay, so Ash's "powers" keep growing or at least proving themselves more versatile. Obviously, explanations to come. We'll also begin to see from here on out how Ash will be able to affect his other Pokémon—not just Pikachu—in upcoming battles. We have a whole team to develop, no? And yes, Geeta has decided to show her face. Why now? Time will tell. But first we'll need to see how Serena reacts to Ash's 10928324th near-death experience...nothing some nice kisses can't fix, hm? ;)