The turmoil reached a crescendo as Kaiy and Graisey arrived at the scene. The crowd of Trainers, around twenty boys and girls, was a chaotic mix of frustration and concern. Their voices rose in a cacophony of complaints.
“How are we expected to train our Pokémon this way?” a boy shouted over the commotion.
“This is just unsafe!” a girl’s voice rang out, her tone echoing the sentiments of the group. The crowd murmured in agreement, their anxiety palpable.
They all stood in the front yard of a charmingly decorated house. Shrubs and stones were sculpted into playful Pokémon shapes, and wooden figures adorned the flower patches. Most striking were the statues of Groudon and Kyogre, majestic and imposing, standing as if they were the guardians of the front door. Kaiy glanced at them with a mix of recollection and awe but quickly refocused on the commotion at hand.
The front door creaked open, and out stepped a distinguished older man. He was impeccably dressed, with a cane in hand and a lined hat perched on his head, adding a touch of old-world charm to his appearance. His presence commanded immediate attention.
“Settle down now, younglings,” he called out with a crackling voice that carried a blend of authority and warmth. “I want to know what is going on.”
The crowd fell silent as one Trainer, a boy with a worried expression, stepped forward.
“Sir, my Pokémon and I were attacked!” he explained, his voice tinged with both stress and politeness.
“That tends to happen in the wild, young Trainer,” Mr. Pokémon responded, his tone gentle yet probing. “Did you attend Earl’s Pokémon Academy in Violet City?”
The boy was momentarily taken aback by the question but managed to nod, though his confusion was evident.
“Excuse me, sir,” a girl interjected, her voice trembling. “The trouble is in the Dark Cave ahead. I went there too to catch a Geodude for the Gym Challenge, but then...” She burst into tears, her arm wrapped in a makeshift cast. Another Trainer, presumably her friend, explained a small cave-in causing the injury to her friend.
The sight of her injury drew Mr. Pokémon’s attention. He made his way to the girl with a sense of urgency and concern.
“What happened in the cave, dear?” he asked softly, examining her arm with practiced eyes. “You need medical attention. Who here can gather information for me from the cave?”
The crowd looked around, their faces a mixture of uncertainty and fear. The silence grew heavy until Kaiy, noticing the hesitation, stepped forward decisively.
“We’ll go,” he said, his voice steady and reassuring.
The mission was accepted by all parties at hand. Mr. Pokémon would guide the injured girl to the nearest doctor as Kaiy and Graisey would gather the required information. Graisey stored Mr. Pokémon’s phone number in her PokéGear. Just as they wanted to leave the scenic house and the crowd of Trainers, they were halted by a handful of Trainers, led by an obnoxious boy.
“Hey, if you’re so eager to prove yourselves, why don’t you show us what you’ve got?” he challenged, his tone dripping with bravado. “Let’s see if you’re up to the task!”
Graisey’s heart raced as the attention turned to her. Then, her expression hardened, accepting the challenge.
The battle scene unfolded, some more Trainers gathered to catch a glance of the fight.
Graisey and the overconfident Trainer faced each other, the tension crackling in the air. The boy released his Chikorita and Sentret with a flourish, their determined stances contrasting sharply with Graisey’s calm but focused demeanor.
“Cyndaquil, I choose you!” Graisey called out, sending her Pokémon into the fray with a burst of enthusiasm. Stars, the Ledyba, buzzed overhead, scouting and providing support from above.
The battle unfolded with a palpable sense of excitement. Chikorita's Vine Whip lashed out, but Cyndaquil's quick reflexes allowed it to dodge gracefully, its flames flickering as it avoided the attack. The Sentret, meanwhile, charged in with Quick Attack, its speed impressive but ultimately ineffective against Cyndaquil's agility.
“Cyndaquil, use Ember!” Graisey commanded with confidence. The flames on Cyndaquil's back erupted into a burst of fiery projectiles, hurtling toward Chikorita. The Ember attack hit its mark, causing Chikorita to stagger slightly, its leaf-tipped head swaying from the impact.
Sentret attempted another Quick Attack, but Stars, the Ledyba, swooped down to assist. With a precise buzz, Stars hovered close to the Sentret, causing it to lose its focus momentarily. Cyndaquil seized the opportunity and charged forward with a Tackle, slamming into Sentret and sending it skidding back.
“Don’t let up!” the overconfident Trainer shouted, his frustration evident. “Chikorita, use Razor Leaf!”
Chikorita’s leaf blades glistened as it unleashed a flurry of sharp leaves. They sliced through the air, targeting Cyndaquil and Ledyba. Graisey winced as Cyndaquil took a few hits, but the Fire-type Pokémon remained determined. Stars, however, skillfully maneuvered out of harm’s way.
“Cyndaquil, counter with Ember!” Graisey instructed, her voice steady. Cyndaquil found his footing, flames blazing as it shot another round of Ember at Chikorita. The fire caught Chikorita directly, and with a pained cry, the Grass-type Pokémon fell to its knees from the critical attack, clearly exhausted.
Seeing his main Pokémon struggling, the Trainer recalled Chikorita and focused all his energy on Sentret. “Sentret, use Fury Swipes!”
Sentret, visibly tired but resolute, charged Cyndaquil. It seemed like it might turn the tide. But Graisey was ready.
“Stars, use Reflect!” she shouted. Stars emitted a shimmering barrier that deflected the attacking Sentret before it reached its mark. Cyndaquil took the chance to close in, and with a burst of flames, it hit Sentret with another Ember.
The combined effort from Cyndaquil and Ledyba proved too much for Sentret, which, weakened and worn out, finally succumbed to exhaustion. The boy's frustration was evident as he recalled his Pokémon and glared at Graisey.
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“Not bad,” he muttered through gritted teeth, his pride clearly bruised. “But don’t think you’re unbeatable.”
With a huff, he stomped away, gathering his friends and joining the rest of the crowd. The Trainers who had gathered around for the battle clapped and cheered, their earlier concerns momentarily forgotten.
Graisey took a deep breath, her heart still racing from the excitement. Cyndaquil and Stars returned to her side, both looking relatively unharmed but pleased with their performance.
Kaiy approached, his expression one of pride and encouragement. “Well done, Graisey. I can see you are proud of your team.”
Graisey smiled, a sense of humility and accomplishment while she tended her Pokémon. “Thanks, Kaiy. I just wanted to give it my best.”
The sun began its descent, casting long shadows across the landscape as they prepared to set off toward the Dark Cave.
“Let’s keep moving,” Kaiy suggested. “I want to get to the Dark Cave before nightfall.”
They reached the larger clearing just outside the cave entrance, bathed in the gentle glow of the setting sun. The air was cool and crisp, and the looming entrance of the Dark Cave cast an enigmatic shadow over the area. As they set up camp, the forest seemed to prepare for the night as well. A group of cyclists pedaled westward, their figures gradually fading as they followed Route 31 toward Violet City.
Graisey replayed the battle in her mind, unable to shake the feeling of being out of control. She remembered how Stars and Cyndaquil seemed to respond more skillfully than she did, their actions often faster than her commands. Despite Kaiy’s reassuring words—that her strategies were sound and that facing two Pokémon at once was no easy feat—she couldn’t escape the nagging sense that the victory hadn’t been entirely hers as a Trainer.
Her reflection on the battle left her focusing more on her mistakes than on their triumph. Kaiy had told her that analyzing her performance would help her become more adaptable in future battles, but it didn’t feel like an earned win in the way she had hoped.
Trust in your Pokémon's abilities. They'll never let you down.
Those words echoed in her mind. Yet, as she thought about it, she realized that trust needed to go both ways. “They should trust me, too,” she thought, feeling a flicker of determination.
With the camp ready—a cozy tent set up and a crackling campfire surrounded by logs for sitting—Kaiy took out his RangerGear. A couple of Hoothoot perched on a nearby branch, curiously watching the new arrivals. Kaiy expertly used the blue lasso from his device to gently bind one of the Hoothoot.
“Keep guard and call out for alarm before you flee.” Kaiy instructed, his voice calm and authoritative. The Hoothoot, understanding its role, gave a purposeful nod before taking flight and settling on a higher branch.
“How does that work?” Graisey asked, watching Kaiy with interest. Jolteon and Cyndaquil were nestled close to the fire, enjoying its warmth while Graisey prepared a kettle.
“The lasso acts like a temporary Pokéball,” Kaiy explained, “allowing me to request help or give commands to Pokémon. They always have the choice to refuse, though. When I’m clear and strong-willed, they’re more likely to cooperate.” Kaiy turned his attention to the campfire, the temperature dropping with the setting sun. The crackling flames cast a comforting glow, filling the clearing with warmth and ambient shadows.
“Back in Cherrygrove, you and Marshal both used lassos on a Talonflame, but the lines broke. Why?” Graisey inquired, her curiosity evident as she poked the fire with a stick. Kaiy noticed her eager interest and decided to elaborate.
“When the devices were first introduced, we could cast multiple lassos on a single Pokémon to overwhelm it,” Kaiy said, pouring hot water into a cup and watching the powder dissolve into a delicious stew. “But this led to chaos in the Pokémon’s mind. So, the devices were modified. Now, if more than one lasso is used, all lines automatically break, protecting the Pokémon’s mental well-being.”
Graisey listened intently, clearly fascinated. “Marshal didn’t know about this change, did she?”
Kaiy continued, noting the hint of apprehension in her voice.
“Correct. Marshal used to be in the field, but now she’s a Commander, managing other Rangers and overseeing missions. She’s excellent at it. I have a lot of respect for her,” Kaiy said, his voice filled with admiration.
Graisey’s face turned a bit red as she tried to avoid eye contact, quickly turning her attention to her cup of stew. “Yes, Marshal seemed…”
“Like a good Commander,” Kaiy finished, offering a reassuring smile that eased Graisey’s discomfort.
They enjoyed their stew with quiet satisfaction. Jolteon and Cyndaquil, though nourished in their Pokéballs, were given special snacks as well. Stars, who had joined them outside, was also treated to some tasty morsels. The Pokémon shared a warm camaraderie, their earlier battle having forged a bond. Cyndaquil and Stars exchanged friendly glances and settled close to the fire, while Jolteon, sensing the moment, nestled beside its partner. Kaiy gave the Pokémon a gentle pat.
“How are the boots now?” Kaiy asked, noticing Graisey removing them and rubbing her feet by the fire.
“Surprisingly good. They broke in fast!” Graisey replied, her relief evident.
Suddenly, a loud noise echoed from the cave. The Hoothoot on guard emitted a soft hoot but remained perched, its alert, red-glowing eyes scanning the surroundings.
“What was that?” Graisey asked, her voice tinged with concern as she turned toward the sound.
“I’m not sure, but it’s best not to rush in now. We need our rest,” Kaiy said, tossing a treat to the Hoothoot, which caught it deftly midair before resuming its watchful post.
As the night deepened, the crackling fire and the soft sounds of the forest created a sense of calm and anticipation. Graisey and Kaiy settled into their camp, resting to face whatever the Dark Cave had in store for them.