Morning seeped in through the foliage, the early sun rays gently kissing the grassy floor. A few Sentret scurried around the campsite, searching for leftovers. They paid no mind to the Caterpies enjoying the warmth of the campfire's remaining embers. The Hoothoot on duty began to nod off from exhaustion but kept a watchful eye on the looming entrance of the Dark Cave ahead.

As Kaiy stepped out of the tent, yawning, the wild Pokémon fled the scene. He thanked the loyal surveillant with a bowl of Pokémon treats. While it snacked on the nutritious pellets, Kaiy called Shade from its Pokéball.

“Hello, my dear friend,” Kaiy greeted. The Decidueye gleamed in recognition. “I need your help on this.” Kaiy projected a map with his RangerGear, flicking some buttons and zooming in on several highlights.

“We are currently here. Can you see this clearing on the map?” Shade turned its head, matching the surroundings to the holographic map, and nodded in acknowledgment. It crossed eyes with Graisey, who was crawling out of the tent with a sleepy Cyndaquil in tow. As they stretched, they slowly joined the Ranger and his tactician.

Kaiy welcomed Graisey to the meeting while chewing on a Rage Candy Bar, outlining a plan. “We have no idea what we’ll encounter in the cave. Yesterday we heard a deep rumble, and several Trainers were surprised by something inside as they ventured through it.” The Decidueye listened intently, nodding every time Kaiy looked at him.

“I suggest Jolteon and I scout the first room of the Dark Cave.” Kaiy indicated on the map, placing a holographic flag on the projection. Another rumbling sound stirred the group from their concentration. Shade leapt into the air, doing a quick scouting round over the clearing. Finding nothing out of the ordinary, he reported back to the group.

The Arrow Quill Pokémon gave a small hoot, and Kaiy understood immediately. From his RangerGear, he pulled out a stylus, handing it to Shade, who drew several symbols on the projection. Kaiy nodded in agreement, but Graisey could only listen for now.

“I agree. This is a safer approach.”

“What is?” Graisey asked, breaking Kaiy and Decidueye's concentration. The Ghost-Pokémon seemed slightly annoyed by the interruption but remained silent.

“Shade made a brilliant point. The Dark Cave is an ancient structure, full of natural dangers. The sounds or disturbances are also causing a cave-in. Therefore, only Jolteon and I going in is unsafe. We need muscle and protection.” Kaiy reached for his belt, snapping off a Great Ball and throwing it into the air. An enormous Pokémon joined the scene, tackling Kaiy in a frenzied hug.

“Relax, Paragon, you’re scaring Graisey!” Kaiy laughed, lying between its tusks as the Pokémon rubbed its snout over his belly. Graisey was indeed baffled by the enormous Mamoswine, and although they had never met, Graisey would suffer the same fate. Paragon turned and knocked the Trainer to the ground with its seemingly clumsy actions. Picking her up with its tusk he rubbed its snout all over her, hugging her. She cried with laughter from the tickling sensation, while Cyndaquil kicked and pushed against the giant to no avail. Shade shrieked, startling Paragon. The Ice-type turned to its friend, but the meaningful look from the tactician was enough. The Mamoswine turned and found a spot to lie down, while Cyndaquil kept a wary eye on him. Graisey regained her composure, fixing her shirt and snickering until she also met eyes with Shade, who resumed making indications on the map.

The plan was set. Kaiy would enter the cave with Paragon, the Mamoswine, leading the way. Jolteon would accompany them, illuminating the Dark Cave. Their goal was to move quietly and determine the source of the chaos within. If they found the disturbance, Kaiy would examine it and make a report.

They broke camp swiftly, Graisey quickly gave Cyndaquil his medication while Paragon used Powder Snow to ensure no embers were left in the campfire. Then, the bulky Ice-type squeezed through the cave entrance, his massive form just fitting. After a tense minute, he growled softly, signaling the others to follow. Kaiy and Jolteon exchanged a meaningful look, nodded, and stepped over the threshold into the cave.

“Wait.” Graisey had just put away her PokéGear. “Can I come too, please?”

Kaiy and Jolteon paused, interrupted by their new friend. The Ranger was taken aback, unused to having a companion on his missions, aside from his Pokémon partners. The plan was meticulously crafted, and it didn’t include Graisey or her team.

Kaiy had to think. He had a mission to complete with very little intel; it could turn out to be dangerous. He was responsible for his safety, the safety of his team, and the protection of the wild Pokémon and their habitat within the cave. But Graisey had proven herself in Cherrygrove, showing she could hold her ground. If she joined him, he could ensure her safety.

“Okay, but.” He turned to Graisey with a stern expression. “You will do exactly as I say. If I tell you to run, you run. If I tell you to leave me and bring yourself to safety, you do so. Can you agree to that?” He held out his hand.

Graisey shook his hand and nodded in agreement. After all, what could possibly go wrong?

With Mamoswine leading the group and Jolteon providing light, the five ventured deeper into the Dark Cave, the strange noises guiding them forward. The air grew cooler, and the sounds of dripping water echoed ominously around them. The faint glow from Jolteon's fur cast eerie shadows on the cave walls, heightening the sense of mystery and tension. The cave-dwelling habitants scurried away from the light. The mere presence of the enormous Mamoswine discouraged Pokémon to attack the group. Kaiy noticed the group of Zubat hanging on the cavernous ceiling. They noticed him, he saw them, but none made a move towards the other.

As they walked, the path grew narrower and more uneven. Large rocks and debris blocked their way. Kaiy signaled for Mamoswine to move forward.

"Paragon, we need your strength," he said quietly, pointing to a large boulder blocking their path. The Mamoswine snorted in acknowledgment and stepped in, using its tusks and immense power to shatter the rock with a mighty Rock Smash. The debris crumbled, creating a path for them to continue. They went silent first, checking if the Rock Smash didn't entice the disturbance in the cave or cause structural damage to the complex. It remained silent.

Graisey followed silently as the group pressed on, careful not to disturb the group's focus. She watched in awe as Paragon effortlessly cleared the obstacles. Her Cyndaquil trotted by her side, occasionally glancing up to her for reassurance, but the flames on its back remained absent.

Suddenly, a faint rustling caught Kaiy’s attention. He raised his hand, signaling everyone to halt. They waited in silence, the only sound being the distant drip of water. After a few tense moments, Kaiy proceeded cautiously, his senses on high alert.

As they ventured further, the sounds grew louder and more menacing. Kaiy could feel the tension building in the air. Suddenly, they encountered a collapsed section of the cave, with large pieces of debris blocking their way. Some footprints and ripped clothing, a sleeve, were found on the scene. The find indicates this is the spot where the girls were talking about. This was not a result of natural decay, this was made. But by whom, or what?

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Paragon, we need to move this debris," Kaiy instructed. Mamoswine nodded and began to use its powerful body to push and clear the path. Kaiy and Jolteon assisted where they could, pushing smaller rocks aside and guiding Paragon.

Finally, they reached a large cavern. The source of the rumbling sounds became clear—a Graveler, enraged and out of control, was smashing the cave walls with its rocky fists. The enraged Rock-and Ground-type did not notice the intruders as it kept banging the walls. Then it turned away from the group and took a few steps. Kaiy held out his RangerGear, seemingly scanning the Pokémon. It formed a ball and with formidable force and speed it used Rollout on the cavern wall. The group covered their ears as the Rock-Pokémon collided with the wall. Tremors were created and Chips of rock and dust flew in all directions, the source of the strange sounds and cave-ins became noticeable.

Graisey couldn’t help but cough a little too loud from all the dust settling on their bodies. The Graveler spotted the team and roared loudly. Cyndaquil shook and hid behind Graisey. Jolteon illuminated the rocky room harshly, momentarily blinding the threat.

Kaiy immediately noticed the Graveler's eyes. They had the same eerie, unnatural glow as Talonflame during the attack in Cherrygrove.

"We need to subdue it," Kaiy directed to Graisey, who nodded, her face set with determination.

Kaiy quickly pulled out his lasso from the RangerGear and cast it towards the Graveler, hoping to calm it down. But the Graveler roared and shattered the lasso with its powerful arms. Its eyes blazed with fury, and it charged at them, using Rollout.

Paragon moved swiftly, positioning itself between the Graveler and the group. The Graveler's heavy blow landed on Mamoswine, who stood firm. Jolteon used Pin Missile to draw attention away from the group.

Graveler's frustration grew, and with a deafening roar, it prepared its next move. Kaiy realized too late what was happening and tried to shout, "Everyone, get down!"

But the Graveler detonated fast with a blinding flash of light and a thunderous boom, sending shockwaves through the cave. The force of the Explosion knocked everyone back. Kaiy hit the ground hard, his vision blurred and ears ringing. He struggled to stay conscious, feeling the weight of Mamoswine pressing down on him, his RangerGear blinking red lights.

Through the haze, he saw Graisey's pack lying nearby, partially open. Summoning all his strength, he crawled over and rummaged through it, his fingers closing around a Pokéball.

With a final, desperate effort, Kaiy aimed the Pokéball at the Sturdy Graveler, who was still staggering from its own attack, but surprisingly did not faint. The Pokéball struck Graveler, drawing it inside with a flash of light. The ball wobbled violently, but after a tense moment, it clicked shut.

Kaiy collapsed, the Pokéball lay soulless in the room. The cave fell silent, save for the distant dripping of water.

The sea was wild and unforgiving, it bashed upon the washed-up body of the novice Pokémon Ranger. The Larvitar of the island dragged the figure away from the shoreline. There was no reaction from the human. The volcano finally subdued, clearing the sky from the intrusive smoke. An enormous yellow Pokémon flew over the island, directly towards the lifeless body. It landed near the Larvitar, with the human between its deadly talons. Zapdos planted its razor-sharp beak on the human's chest. A single line of lightning erupted from the cleared sky, finding its way to its master, and eventually reinvigorating the washed-up boy. With a deep breath, Kaiy opened his eyes.

“Kaiy?” Graisey was startled when Kaiy inhaled deeply while he lay on the back of Paragon. The Pokémon's movement made sealike motions, as if he was back on the island.

“Graisey?” he asked weakly, “How…”

“Keep still Kaiy, we are almost out of the Dark Cave, Jolteon led the way.”

They could smell the fresh air as the entrance grew closer with each careful step. As they emerged from the cave, they were momentarily blinded—not just by the sun, but by a flurry of camera flashes. An enthusiastic crowd had gathered, clamoring to greet the returning explorers on Route 31.The clearing was filled with Trainers and reporters, even a police unit was dispatched. The only thing missing was a Ranger Squad. Kaiy slowly got up from Mamoswine’s back, who lay down to ease its partner's descent.

“What happened in the Dark Cave?”

“Are the rumors true? Is there a new Regi spotted in the Johto region?”

“How did you overcome the legendary Pokémon?”

“When did you decide to use only legendary and mythical Pokémon to enter the Pokémon League?”

The reporters fired question after question, but Kaiy and Graisey were too baffled to answer any of them.

Kaiy's head was still spinning from the Explosion. His ears rang, and his vision was blurred, but the sudden onslaught of questions snapped him back to reality. He raised a hand, trying to shield his eyes from the flashing cameras.

"Please, we need a moment," he managed to say, his voice hoarse.

Graisey, clutching Cyndaquil protectively, looked around at the sea of faces. She felt her cheeks flush as the questions became more insistent.

Kaiy saw the distress on Graisey's face and felt a surge of protectiveness. He stepped in front of her, trying to block the crowd's view.

"Back off!" he barked, his Ranger instincts kicking in. "Give us some space!"

A police officer noticed the commotion and stepped forward, holding up his hands to keep the crowd at bay. "Alright, folks, give them some room," he ordered, his voice authoritative. "Let them catch their breath."

Kaiy gave the officer a grateful look.

“You can direct all questions to me. I'm in charge of this operation.” Mr. Pokémon stepped forward seemingly out of nowhere, absorbing all the attention.

“Play along,” he whispered to the pair, “there is a jeep on the left. It will take you to the Violet City PokéCenter. I’ll meet you there.”

Graisey took Kaiy by the arm, guiding him towards the jeep Mr. Pokémon had pointed out. The vehicle was parked discreetly to the side, away from the press swarm.

"Are you okay?" she asked him softly as they walked, her concern evident.

Kaiy nodded, though his expression told otherwise. They reached the jeep, and Graisey helped Kaiy inside before climbing in herself. As they drove away from the chaos, she took a deep breath, trying to process everything that had happened.