Last time our heroes managed to settle a disagreement between 2 feuding Pokemon, and that is easy. What's coming next, however, will be a much harder struggle.

Kopi POV

Note to self Taylor's curiosity combined with Ziggy's energy is a terrible combination. To make up for lost time yesterday, Taylor has beaten four different trainers and now was on the run in search of a Gligar that's been causing mischief to everybody for a while in Route 207. Like the jittery Ninjask, we darted across the now dense forest as Ziggy pursued the Gligar with frantic energy. Before he could even close in with a covet, the Gligar managed to cartwheel millimeters away as Ziggy fug himself in the dirt to stop himself. This subtle back and forth continued as the Gligar showed off impressive agility, mocking Ziggy for all of his worth. However, Ziggy had already adapted to a strategy like this. When you think he was about to miss again, Ziggy threw a split second sand attack to blind the Gligar enough for one last Covet attack! The blow was so hard he was sent crashing into the tree.

Taylor, in almost frightening earnest, wasted no time, throwing her Pokeball with all her might! But before that fateful catch could be made, another Pokeball intercepted the throw! Before we could even make heads or tails of it, the Gligar suddenly woke up, his confident face completely gone as he sensed a presence that wasn't our own. At that moment, the Gligar left in a feverish fright as we soon bared witness to terrifyingly nostalgic force. I didn't know how or why, but it looks like the Trumative has come back in full force. However, now they looked far more muscular in appearance and differentiated. Flash had on' a dark gold vest, Ebon kept a dark purple tank top, and Igna finished off with a crimson v neck. All of them had a circle symbol with their signature colors divided into thirds. However, what worried me most was their facade, as I can tell their previous overconfidence was now overshadowed by a deep, unnatural hatred. Flash grew a sly smile as he started.

"Hey there, Taylor, how you've been?"

I swear I could hear Taylor's heart tighten at the sentence. And at that moment, I damned myself once again for even putting herself in this position. So taking her previous words to heart, I decided to do everything I can to fix things. My mind raced with possible scenarios until I came up with a risky but plausible plan. As the mysterious third party, I put on a mask as I walked between them with a friendly face.

"Oh, are you, friends, with Taylor? If so, nice to meet you; the name is John. I'm a friend of Taylor, but she's never told me about you," all the while partially transforming my back into some letters.

"Play it cool, a retreat for now."

I tried continuing the conversation, but I was soon cut off.

"No one cares toothpick we came to battle, not babble," said a violent Igna.

Taylor then stepped in, following my instructions to the letter.

"My Pokemon and I have spent the whole day battling; if you want to get beat again so badly, then my Ditto and I will be happy to obliged tomorrow."

At that moment, the 3 of them had their auras grow mysteriously darker like I was reading a twist that I already knew was coming.

"Well, you see, we aren't giving you an option, we know you have "him" on you, and we are going to get him to show no matter what!" Flash said as the 3 pulled out their signature Pokemon!

Taylor's throat still held tight, but I can tell she wasn't going to back down as she also brought out all of her Pokemon as well! With her fiery facade, Taylor looked to the three as she stood her ground.

"I'm not the same trainer as I was before; you better bring your A-game!"

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"Don't worry, girl, we aren't the same either; in fact, we are a whole different breed! Let's see if you and your fodder can handle the power of Dark Evolution!"

With that last moment, the 3's dark auras reached a fever pitch as it focused on revealing three distinct bracelets. It took me too long to recognize them, though, as, in a simple motion, the stone inside the bracelet lit up in the dark, all-consuming light! This light seemed to drain even color itself as dark lighting soon came from said bracelet! All three trainers grunted in pain as if they didn't even know what they summoned! All the while, the bracelet itself seemed to start implanting itself onto their skin to grow into a black glowing tattoo. Eventually, the lights soon formed into dense shadows that wrapped the unwilling and afraid Pokemon in a cocoon. For what seemed like seconds felt like an eternity to me as I saw every bit of that cocoon break, revealing a whole new level of Pokemon!

Upon their emergence, my body felt painful nostalgia as all my strength started to pour out in rivers! And as I grabbed my clutched chest, I realized that this mysterious power was all too familiar. That Ursaring from earlier had a similar aura, but as I saw both the Pokemon and their trainers stream out violet shadows with blood-red eyes, I knew that I was bearing witness to something far worse. Once again, Flash grew a smile now turned demonic as he chuckled, saying.

"Now if I remember correctly, you said that we should bring our A-game, right? If so, I guess that means we get the first move!"

All at once, my fear replaced any form of weakness as I carried a now weary Taylor and Ziggy from an onslaught of thunder and fire! The blast itself was so intense that the next thing I know, I'm sent tumbling down a hill, with a weakened Taylor using what's left to return Ziggy in his ball. I managed to take the brunt of the fall, running away in huffed breaths without losing a breath amongst the dense forest. I almost thought we stood a chance until, in one fell swoop, I'm sent flying a good 50ft straight into fringes of Route 206 by a rabid Dark pulse! The pulse ripped through by body like shrapnel as soon enough; I bounced like a ragdoll my way towards the Cycling Road in a brutally weakened heap. Blood streamed down my various wounds with the only thing keeping me conscious was how painful each oncoming breath was.'

I think that was the thing that saved me in the end as from the corner of my eye; I saw a deadly swift attack heading our way! Once again, my body moved all on its own, past the pain, past the distressed onlookers that fled on sight, past even the limits of my own human body as I grabbed Taylor and dove straight off the bridge! Before even gravity could claim it's holding, I braced myself as I took the full force of the attack to my back! I might as well have gotten hit with the sun itself as the blast tore through my back! The pain was almost indescribable, almost the worst I ever felt, but even with bleeding hands, I didn't let go until the very end! Like a sinking stone, we fell into the river below at breakneck pace. But that still felt like an eternity to me, because it was right around then my body went limp! For what felt like forever, it seemed all my sense turned to black.

However, just as quickly as I had started to fade, the pain of the earlier attack was so great when I hit the water, I had no choice but to respond! All at once, my frail muscles and broken bones faded away. While the aching hadn't, I still had just enough stamina to swim Taylor out of the water. At that moment, I had collapsed onto the ground in huffed breaths. Even then, I called out to Taylor's limp, unmoving body. The fear from it all was almost unbearable, and yet once again, I could do nothing but powerlessly watch my friend struggle for their life.

"C'mon Leonard, doesn't leave me a second time! Fight with everything you got; I can't lose you again!"

Luckily fate had different plans; as Taylor's eyes fluttered open, I almost thought she was about to say something until she coughed up a bucket full of water across the fresh grass. For a minute on end, I heard the beautiful retching of life as Talyor laid down in pained struggle.

"Ugh, and this is why I hate baths."

A couple of minutes later, we managed to recollect ourselves inside one of Cave Wayward's many entrances.

"Can you move?" I said with nurturing caution.

"Not, everything kind of hurts, it feels like everything has been sapped out of me, just like that Ursaring."

"Same here, but I think I've got enough left in the tank to get us out of this?" I said in fist clenched rage.

"You're going to fight them all by yourself? Don't you think that's a little too risky?"

"These guys came after me, Taylor, and at this rate, retreat isn't an option. Worse yet, who knows what havoc these guys can do with that power of theirs. They wanted a fight, and I'm going to give them exactly what they wished for," I said in creeping bloodlust.

"Mr. Kopi, please don't. I don't want you to leave me. If we're going to fight them, we can do it together on our terms! I don't want to be alone again."

In that instant, my heart softened as I saw myself instead of Leonard. And at that moment, I pulled out all of her Pokeballs and revealed all of her Pokemon in full fighting force.

"You're not alone anymore, Taylor, and I promise you this, I'll always find my way back to. But I need you to stay strong for just a little bit longer," I say reassuringly.

Taylor then gave me a simple nod and with that was all I needed to run off. As I walked out of the cave into the bright afternoon sun, I used Ziggy's sense of smell and took in a big whiff. But I almost didn't need that; I could smell their pungent aura coming from a mile away. In response to such an aura, I braced and collected all the strength I had remaining and said my last words before going off to war.

"I'm sorry, Leonard, for everything," I said as I slowly started to transform.

I promised Leonard that I would move on from this life, but I knew that to keep Taylor's promise alive, I had to regress. I had to give in to every label Apex ever gave me. These bastards may have taken first blood, and I don't know what their power means, but I know I'll get the last laugh! Even it means tearing their entire world asunder!

And like that, our hero charges into his next battle without a second thought. But will Kopi be able to stand up against this new threat? What is the true power of this Dark Evolution? All this and more will be answered as the journey continues ever forward.