Chapter 10 - Cyndaquil's Debut

Aisha found herself once again inside the library, this time handing over her Pokémon to an elderly security guard instead of Faelan. The man, likely in his late sixties, was short but surprisingly fit for his age. His clean-shaven face and sparse hair contrasted sharply with his constant smile, which immediately put Aisha at ease.

"I must say, you're much more pleasant than that young man from last night," Aisha remarked.

"Why, thank you, miss. But you're surely speaking of Faelan. He's a good lad, just had it rough in life," the old guard replied.

Intrigued, Aisha pressed, "What happened to him, if you don't mind my asking?"

"You know, miss, it's not my place to say. All in all, I get it if he offended you. He tends to make people uncomfortable just by... well, being there. How about I apologize on his behalf and we call it a day?" the old man offered.

"Oh, you misunderstand completely. Where are my manners? I'm Aisha, by the way," she said.

"Anthony. Pleased to meet you, miss. What do you mean I misunderstand?"

Aisha's curiosity peaked. She sensed an opportunity to learn more about Faelan's past. Leaning closer to Anthony, she whispered, feigning embarrassment, "You see, I found Faelan very helpful yesterday. I just meant you're more pleasant, not that he offended me. Actually, I think he's quite handsome, and I could use some information about him... you know, to avoid offending him somehow."

Anthony's face lit up. "Oh my, that makes me so happy to hear. But I see your point; it's easy to offend him. Let me give you the short version. He joined a special forces unit in Kanto. His family lived in Cerulean during the Zapdos attack. His unit was deployed there, but poor Faelan was only twenty then, just a few years into service. Tragically, his family perished along with his entire unit. He blames himself - not for his family's demise, mind you - but I believe, driven by fear of losing them, he might have endangered his unit somehow. Who could blame him?"

"That's heartbreaking," Aisha said, unsure if she was still pretending or genuinely empathizing. "Between you and me, I think Faelan's handling himself remarkably well, all things considered. I'd be far worse off."

"I'm so glad you feel that way. He needs some light in his life, something to brighten him up," Anthony said.

Aisha, recalling Elduran's nickname for her, thought how close Anthony's comment had hit home. "How did he end up in Tenera though? Surely gaining citizenship couldn't have been easy," she asked, immediately regretting the obvious probing.

"Well, his mother was originally from here, born and raised in Dirthrow. He has dual citizenship. After quitting the military, he probably wanted to get as far from Kanto as possible. Dirthrow became his escape, you might say," Anthony explained.

Realizing she might be asking too many questions, Aisha decided to wrap up the conversation. "Thank you so much for all this information. I knew he was a good man. I won't take any more of your time. It was a pleasure talking to you, Anthony."

"The pleasure was mine, miss, but... don't you want to ask for his number?" Anthony asked with a wink.

Aisha found his concern for Faelan endearing. "I already have it. Asked for it last night, and he gave it to me," she replied, winking back and inwardly smiling at the technical truth of her statement.

"I knew there was something special about you. I hope you see the real him soon. Don't let me hold you up any longer. Take care, Aisha," Anthony said, returning to his desk.

Aisha offered a crisp salute and ascended to the library's second floor. Despite the delay, she deemed the detour valuable. Perhaps Elduran was acquainted with him; after all, APSO primarily handled legendary Pokémon incidents, so he likely belonged to their ranks, though other units occasionally stepped in when APSO was otherwise engaged.

Aisha immediately saw two individuals seated at the same desk where she had seen another pair of people the previous day. They were absorbed in their phones. Both bore the native olive complexion of Tenera. One was a man with short, dark brown hair, clean-shaven, sporting glasses, and a notably muscular build. The other was a woman with long, straight black hair cascading to her shoulders, distinguished by a slightly longer than average nose. The word 'raven' sprang to Aisha's mind at the sight of her. They appeared to be in their forties, sitting in close proximity, which led Aisha to speculate they might be a couple.

As she approached their table, they glanced at her, and she offered a nod, continuing on her way. This time, unlike with the Cleavers, she felt she didn't exude fear. She supposed Elduran's influence was indeed washing over her. As she passed, she discreetly glimpsed them out of the corner of her eye—definitely a couple, she decided. The man's hand rested on the woman's thigh. Perhaps they were a couple, or perhaps just very close friends. Elduran would undoubtedly call them 'fuck buddies', she mused, amused by the thought.

She proceeded to a table about fifty feet past the corner, positioned almost directly above the main entrance. From this vantage point, she could observe them clearly, with only two sets of rails separating them—theirs on their side, hers on hers. There were no spiral staircases obstructing her view; she needed to capture a photo this time. At least Elduran would get a glimpse of two of their faces. As for the other two, he’d have to make do with her descriptions for now.

With her phone in hand, she zoomed in, feigning disinterest as she captured their image. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a man in a white lab coat approaching them. She snapped the picture and lowered her phone to watch the scene unfold.

Jabari seemed to be fixated on her for a moment, then refocused his attention on the pair. He leaned down, spoke with them briefly, and left their table. The pair looked furious, their eyes following him with silent fury as he moved toward Aisha. Turning a corner, he aimed directly for her, speaking without pausing, his gaze fixed ahead, "You! Fourth floor, back wall, wait five minutes before coming."

Aisha considered the scenarios, confident that he wasn't aligned with the pair based on his demeanor yesterday. She determined there was no immediate threat, but sent Elduran a text detailing the situation along with the photo. His reply was a morbid emoji of a head with a knife through it—typical, she thought. If anything happened, Jabari would certainly encounter Elduran’s wrath.

After about six minutes, she stood and headed for the fourth floor. This time she opted for the main staircase, avoiding the spiral ones she disliked. The main staircase was at the back wall, where she needed to go. Upstairs, she found him at a small desk in the far corner, with only two chairs. She took a seat opposite him

"You stand out too much, girl. Next time, try a wig—it’s hard to forget someone with hair like green and yellow," remarked Jabari.

"For a lab coat, your observational skills are sharp. Who are you really?" Aisha inquired.

"My observation skills are lousy; you’re just too conspicuous. You were fortunate those two aren't the same ones from yesterday," Jabari elaborated.

"So, who are you?" Aisha pressed once more, her curiosity piqued.

"I'm Jabari, an aspiring Pokémon professor," he declared with a hint of pride.

Aisha introduced herself in turn. "I'm Aisha. As far as I know, this is the only region without a Professor dedicated to any major Pokémon research," she observed, her tone a mix of interest and concern.

"That's precisely why I'm determined to become one. I need a compelling field of study, something to prove my worth, preferably a unique area that other regions haven't explored," Jabari replied.

"So, that's the reason for your presence here," Aisha surmised.

Jabari offered her a gentle smile and simply nodded in affirmation.

"How many new fields could possibly remain? Kanto delves into human-Pokémon interaction, Johto focuses on Pokémon evolution, and so on. Is there truly an unexplored field left?" Aisha wondered aloud.

"Yes," Jabari stated with evident pride, "deciphering ancient mythologies to uncover the secrets of locating Mythical and Legendary Pokémon, and, importantly, understanding our actions upon encountering them."

"Wow, you're essentially attempting to validate with science what all these monasteries and temples have been proclaiming about their legendary Pokémon scattered across every region? That's quite the undertaking. Good luck swaying the Sinnoh temples, for that matter! Especially if your findings diverge from their long-held beliefs. Who knows, perhaps you'll discover that Arceus didn't create the world," Aisha quipped.

"In the end, science always wins out. Besides, these Watchers are on the verge of dismantling these temples and monasteries themselves. Let those religious fanatics believe what they will. But this isn't divine retribution from Arceus for mistreating Pokémon; the Watchers are real, and acceptance is overdue. Though we lack tangible evidence, if Arceus intended our destruction, we wouldn't be here. They've managed to command these Mythical beasts, contrary to what their sermons deem impossible," Jabari asserted.

"Are you examining Legendary Pokémon, or is it the Watchers you're focused on?" Aisha inquired.

"Both, as they have intertwined over the past several decades," Jabari clarified.

"And yet, you confess this openly. I could be one of them," Aisha remarked.

"I'm certain you are not. Moreover, observing you, it's obvious you're actually pursuing them. Whom are you working for? You're not a local, and being here is not exactly training to take on the gym," Jabari stated.

"I am not obligated to answer that," Aisha said as she rose to leave.

"I apologize if I offended you, but please, sit down. I am in search of allies. My fiancé and I are in way over our heads."

They had mentioned needing allies just this morning. She could at least hear him out. She resumed her seat.

"What do you have against the Watchers, and in what capacity?" Aisha asked.

"I seek to understand their patterns, to predict their attacks, and ultimately to save lives. In what role are you pursuing this? Are you a journalist or something?" Jabari inquired.

"Oh, I am definitely not a journalist. Jabari, I feel a strong sense of trust toward you—though my intuition hardly ever fails me—I must consult my partner's more practical judgment before revealing further details," Aisha replied.

"Sounds fair! Hand over your phone, and I'll trust you with my number. You can call me anytime to arrange a meeting. I won’t need your number; I'm choosing to trust you without expectation. Just know that wherever we meet, my fiancé will accompany me. She is the more practical one between us also, perhaps a bit too practical, you are warned," Jabari said with a smile.

Aisha passed her phone to him. After dialing his number and returning the phone, she saved his contact information.

"I think I'm finished here anyway. There's not much else I can do. I mostly came to see the faces of the other two. Like you said, I'm too obvious," Aisha said.

"So it was you. They thought I somehow pushed the other two out. That's why they were mad at me, and that’s why you were confident you'd find the other two today. It all makes sense now. How did you manage that?" Jabari asked.

"Damn, this means you're in danger. I'd feel terrible if something happened to you because of what I did. Yes, I recorded them threatening your life and showed it to the security guard," Aisha admitted.

"Ah, that explains a lot," Jabari said.

"Jabari, I'll be in touch soon. But for now, I suggest you take your fiancé and stay in a public place until I reach out. Whether it's a park or a restaurant, it doesn’t matter, just avoid being in your hotel room or wherever you're staying," Aisha advised.

"Alright, that sounds smart. I'll do exactly that. Let's get moving, I'll leave first," Jabari said.

Jabari departed, and shortly after, Aisha followed, sending a text to Elduran expressing an urgent need to talk.

***

Cyndaquil paused at the first building to the north of the library, persistently butting his head against the door, a clear signal for Elduran to open it for him.

"Easy there, Forge. You did an excellent job!" Elduran encouraged, and as always, Cyndaquil basked in the joy of the praise.

The structure was a three-story rectangular edifice, with “hotel” scrawled with black brush strokes above the main glass door, contrasting sharply against the pale gray stone of the façade, though two letters had nearly faded away completely. He opened the door and stepped inside. Behind the reception desk sat a very plump woman in her late sixties. Elduran approached her, knowing that securing a room was the best course of action. He noticed Cyndaquil about to head up the stairs, nose to the ground.

"Forge, come here, please," Elduran called, and Cyndaquil obediently returned to him. Elduran picked him up and, moving back towards the entrance, whispered, "When the lady isn't watching, find out which door the scent is coming from, then come right back to me, okay?" Setting Cyndaquil down, he hurried over to where the woman was seated, positioning himself far to her left so that she had to turn her head away from the staircase. Elduran doubted Cyndaquil understood the details of his plan, and even if he did, compliance was uncertain.

The idea was simple: if Cyndaquil could discern the correct floor, Elduran would request a room there, stalling for time. "I apologize, my Cyndaquil is incredibly curious," he said, catching the woman’s attention as she turned towards him. From the corner of his eye, Elduran saw Cyndaquil wait patiently until her gaze was averted before trotting up the stairs. Elduran noted with satisfaction that Cyndaquil was truly improving.

"Hello, sir. I'm sorry, but we don't have any rooms available," the old lady informed him.

Elduran was astounded. A hotel in Dirthrow, in this godforsaken town, completely booked? It seemed impossible. He might not be the sharpest, but he prided himself on his way with words. There had to be a trick to this, surely those four had secured the entire inn. He needed a clever approach to glean more information. Direct confrontation was out of the question; that would be too blatant. Aisha, with her keen instincts, would undoubtedly assess whether this woman was a mere employee, the owner, or perhaps linked to the organization. An idea struck him—the possible watchers had been staying here for nearly ten weeks, if his memory served him right.

"Oh, what a pity! I was here four months ago and would have loved to rent one of your rooms again. It was such a delightful experience. Are you really fully booked? When might a room become available?" inquired Elduran.

"I'm afraid you misunderstand. The rooms are unavailable because we're renovating. I wasn't working here back then—the previous owner sold this place, and the new owner hired me," explained the old lady.

"If you’re renovating, why is the door open?" Elduran asked, realizing he might be scrutinizing her too closely. Hastily, he added, "Had there been a sign saying 'closed,' I wouldn’t have bothered you. Your time is valuable," though he was certain there was no construction occurring in the building.

"Oh, don't trouble yourself over my time. The new owner wanted to leave the door open to give the impression that the establishment is still operational. It's one of his peculiarities. Plus, he likes not having to unlock two doors to get to his room. I can't quite grasp how that makes any sense," the old lady replied.

This was beyond Elduran's comprehension. The notion that they had purchased the entire property merely for those four to play the role of scholars utterly puzzled him. It might be advantageous to determine which floor they resided on, yet he felt confident that Cyndaquil had likely already deduced that; Elduran hadn't even noticed him descend; suddenly, he was already standing right beside him. This was far preferable, as he preferred not to have her inform them about a man nosily inquiring about them. Aisha sent a message indicating she would converse with the lab coat-clad individual she had mentioned the previous day, accompanied by a photograph of a man and a woman. Two out of the four faces were now etched in his memory. He responded with an emoji he customarily sent to his companions. His task here was complete.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"I regret that I am unable to rent a room at this time. Perhaps on another occasion. Have a wonderful day!" Elduran conveyed to her.

"Take care, sir," responded the elderly lady.

As he approached the exit, two individuals entered: a dark-skinned, heavyset man, completely bald, and a slender woman with cascading blonde hair. They matched Aisha's description exactly; all four faces were now engrained in his memory. Jackpot! He regarded them with an air of innocence.

"Hello! It seems this establishment is closed due to renovation. What a shame. It's the ideal spot if you wish to stay near the gym," Elduran remarked.

The man scrutinized him, contemplating a reply. "Yes, indeed. We're here to tally the materials required for the renovation."

Catching a lie would be effortless, Elduran mused, but his goal was to become a forgotten encounter. So he played along.

"Well, best of luck to you! I'll leave you to it. Farewell!" Elduran said as he departed the premises followed by Cyndaquil.

Upon stepping out, he turned right, and then quickly took another right into a narrow alley barely wide enough for a car to squeeze between the buildings. Elduran began counting windows, estimating two per room—one for the bathroom, one for the sleeping area. He counted eight in total, suggesting four rooms on each side, amounting to eight rooms per floor. The alley behind the apartments expanded into a broad road, easily accommodating two cars. Thus far, the only vehicles Elduran had encountered were trucks, likely transporting stone from the quarries on the town's outskirts to the north, where the monorail station was situated.

Elduran released Vivillon and knelt beside Cyndaquil.

"Were you able to find out which room they're in, Forge?" Elduran inquired of Cyndaquil.

"Cyyyyn," responded Cyndaquil.

Vivillon was on the verge of speaking, but Elduran gestured her to pause.

"Hold on, before you translate, let me attempt to understand him myself. I owe him that," Elduran said to Vivillon. He turned back to Cyndaquil, "Is it the first floor?" he asked, motioning towards the second-floor windows of the building.

"Cyyyyyyyyn," growled Cyndaquil in reply.

"So, that's a no. Third floor it is, then," Elduran chuckled, moving on to the more intricate query, "Which specific room? Viv, hold back for a moment, let him try to explain it to me," Elduran said.

"Viiiii," Vivillon replied with a smile, clearly relishing the exchange between Elduran and Cyndaquil.

Cyndaquil dashed across to the far side of the building, with Elduran in pursuit, not attempting to hold him back. Cyndaquil paused at the first window on the left as he faced the building from the rear. So, a back corner room, Elduran mused, likely for that bald one—presumably the leader, he speculated. This is valuable information, he thought. We've got all four of their faces and know their residence. A more productive day than he anticipated.

"Excellent work, Forge!" Elduran praised Cyndaquil.

"Cyyyyyn," Cyndaquil replied, just as Vivillon descended to embrace him with her wings.

"Alright, Viv...you can release him now," Elduran gently reminded her.

Vivillon released him. Elduran glanced at the road before him, his mind clouded with thoughts of the dismal hotel, oblivious to the coffee shop right in front of him. The sign proclaimed 'Traditional Fine Coffee'. His destination was clear. Another stone building, single-story, with a barely operable door, yet as long as the coffee was exceptional, its appearance mattered little to him. He stepped inside with Vivillon and Cyndaquil trailing behind. A young boy rudely brushed past, racing to what could loosely be called the counter. Essentially a large table, it supported four gas burners preparing coffee. The boy didn't even offer an apology. He only turned momentarily to Elduran,

"Awesome! You're a trainer. We should have a battle," he declared without awaiting a reply, shifting his focus to the old man behind the desk, who was preparing drinks, likely for the only other two patrons in the room. There were just two tables, each with four chairs. These, alongside the larger one with burners and a register, occupied most of the space. At least the walls were coated with bright white plaster, lending the interior a sense of novelty uncommon in this town. Business appeared to be thriving, hopefully due to the quality of the coffee. "Could I get an Iced Latte, extra sweet?" the boy requested of the man.

"Huh? I haven't the foggiest what that is. Besides, I don't even have any ice. I'm pretty sure I can't assist you with that," the old man replied, and Elduran allowed a faint smile to play across his lips.

"Really? What kind of lousy place is this? Well, it seems I'll have to trudge all the way to the PokéCafé. What a pain," the boy grumbled as he turned toward the exit, the old man and the two patrons silently watching him.

Elduran seized the boy's arm, his voice firm, "I'll say this just once—you need to return to that gentleman over there and offer him an apology," he said, gesturing towards the old man.

"Let go of me. Just who do you think you are?" the boy challenged.

"I'm the guy who's going to kick your butt unless you go back and do the right thing," Elduran retorted.

In a flash, the boy snatched both his Pokéballs, his movements surprisingly swift.

"If you don't let me go right now, my two Pokémon will make you regret it, crazy grump. I’m sure your Vivillon and Cyndaquil will jump in to defend you, and this place will end up in ruins. Then, you’ll find yourself apologizing to him, not me, because I was just defending myself. Release me, or I let them loose," the boy warned Elduran.

Elduran, seeing no other choice, set him free. The boy, still clutching his two Pokéballs, addressed Elduran, "If you can beat me in a two-on-two Pokéball battle, I'll come back and apologize to him. Let's move, there's a nice open area by the monorail station."

"Alright, it's a deal, let's go," Elduran replied, sensing an opportunity, though lacking his Heracross, which was likely healed by now, added a layer of difficulty. He followed the boy out, postponing his coffee until after the battle. The boy seemed to be a first-year trainer, probably around sixteen, with medium brown hair and no facial hair, not even the stray hairs typical of teenagers. He wore a black leather vest without a shirt, heavily distressed jean shorts, and tan leather boots. A blue hat with a Pokéball logo sat atop his head, paired with blue prescription glasses. He was a short lad, no taller than '5-5", appearing to be on the cusp of building some muscle on his lean frame.

Elduran received a message from Aisha, urging him to meet her as soon as possible. Elduran contemplated the upcoming battle as an opportunity to grow stronger and was reluctant to cancel. He messaged Aisha, suggesting they meet near the monorail and mentioning a Pokémon battle he had planned with a baby opponent, someone a bit younger than she was.

The northern side of town appeared noticeably more refined than the southern areas, with homes and shops looking as if they had been rejuvenated into new constructions. Upon reaching the monorail station, positioned by the sea and the river, the surrounding architecture appeared in immaculate condition. This was likely the neighborhood of the town's politicians and quarry owners. The roads here were notably wide and, unlike the dusty paths elsewhere, were at least covered with gravel. Adjacent to the monorail lay a small dock, which was overshadowed by the monorail station, tenfold in size. The area buzzed with trucks offloading rocks into containers, which cranes lifted onto monorail train wagons. It was clear that there were far more trucks than passengers.

Adjacent to the monorail and alongside the river sprawled a ravaged expanse, likely worn by relentless Pokémon battles. Elduran viewed it as the unofficial training grounds frequented by trainers in Dirthrow.

"Alright, here we go. Two-on-two with one switch allowed. Are you good with a wager of 1000 cetis?" the young boy inquired.

"Oh, so you want to put money on it too? How about this: if you win, I won’t kick your ass. If I win, you crawl back over there and beg for forgiveness," Elduran proposed.

"Fine by me. I enjoy putting loudmouths like you in their place. I’m undefeated so far, and I doubt you stand a chance. I’ve been training to be a Pokémon trainer since before I was ten, taught by one of the best," the young boy declared confidently.

"Oh really, and who might that be?" Elduran mocked, a glint of skepticism in his eye.

"As if I’d tell a nobody like you. I’m going to be known as Zane the Invincible, celebrated across all regions," Zane proclaimed.

"Zane, huh? So you’re aiming to become a champion, are you?" Elduran asked, amused by the boy’s bravado.

"Champion? They’re nothing but assholes, slightly better than politicians—if that. They have power but choose to do nothing with it," Zane retorted with disdain.

"A freelance trainer, then? That’s intriguing. Not many at sixteen aim for that path; they usually get nudged in that direction after they’ve had their fill with the league. What made you despise the league at such a young age?" Elduran mused.

"That's none of your damned business. Are we doing this or not?" Zane snapped.

Aisha arrived with Hatenna trailing behind her and Togetic gliding above. She looked at Elduran. "The meeting I mentioned will take place here. Two more participants will join us after your battle. So, this is the baby you talked about? Seems older than a baby, but judging by maturity and from what little I overheard, maybe you're not far off," Aisha remarked.

"Maturity? What do you know about maturity? You two, huh? Don't make me laugh. Enough delay, we're starting now. Once I crush you, I'm heading to the Pokécafé for some decent coffee," Zane declared, releasing a Mienfoo that immediately began punching and kicking the air.

Elduran found it odd that Zane hadn't waited for them to release their first Pokémon simultaneously. Either he was exceptionally skilled or just extremely overconfident. The Mienfoo appeared very energetic. Elduran instructed Vivillon to step forward.

"Viv, unleash Gust!" Elduran commanded.

"Mienfoo, Fake Out, then Pound," Zane instructed with a confident smile.

Vivillon began to summon a gust, but Mienfoo reached her in a flash, striking her face with both palms, disrupting her Gust. It then followed up with a blow from its thigh.

At least Fake Out can only be used once each time she exits her Pokéball, Elduran thought.

"Mienfoo, Hone Claws!" Zane called out.

So close to Vivillon, Elduran mused. The audacity of this kid.

"Viv, use Psybeam!" Elduran ordered.

Vivillon emitted a purple beam that shot toward Mienfoo.

"Cancel and dodge, quickly!" Zane shouted.

Mienfoo leaped to the side, but even in her agile dodge, Psybeam clipped her foot, causing her to lose her footing and crash to the ground. She skillfully rolled several times before rising again, though clearly in pain from the hit.

"Another Psybeam, Viv," Elduran ordered, aiming to exploit the super effective power of psychic attacks against a fighting type.

Just before Psybeam reached Mienfoo, Zane swiftly recalled her and released a Toxel. Without missing a beat, he retrieved a berry from his pocket and tossed it towards Toxel. Instinctively, Toxel opened his mouth and swallowed it whole with practiced ease.

Elduran recalled that Toxel possessed the move Belch, a formidable attack best utilized at close range. To unleash it, Toxel required the consumption of any type of berry. Though he should have acted more swiftly, Elduran found himself truly impressed by this young trainer. The kid's knowledge and ability to issue rapid commands stood out. Unafraid to halt attacks midway, he fought with the acumen not typical of a first-year trainer.

"Viv, maintain your distance. Toxel isn't known for long-range attacks. Initiate a Gust," Elduran instructed.

"Charge straight towards her," Zane ordered.

Toxel surged forward at a speed far exceeding Elduran's expectations. As Vivillon unleashed a Gust, Zane shouted, "Tearful Eyes!"

Toxel's eyes welled with tears as he gazed at Vivillon, causing even the stoic Elduran to shift uncomfortably, let alone the delicate butterfly Pokémon. The gust attack, already set in motion, maintained its full force, yet Toxel charged through it, bracing his tiny feet and absorbing the brunt of the damage. Vivillon stood momentarily bewildered, a pang of guilt striking her as she faced an opponent weeping so intensely. As the gust subsided, Toxel, now bleeding from numerous wounds, leaped towards Vivillon with fierce determination, not waiting for any command from Zane.

"Hold back on Belch for now; brush against her gently, Nuzzle!" Zane ordered.

"Viv, step aside," Elduran directed, aware that she still grappled with the lingering effects of those tears.

She attempted to dodge, yet her speed failed her, and Toxel was upon her in an instant, delivering a shock with one of the least potent electric attacks known in the world of Pokémon. However, this Nuzzle seemed far stronger than normal, and Vivillon suffered greatly, being a flying type vulnerable to electricity. Despite the excruciating pain, she persevered and, without waiting for a command from Elduran, unleashed struggle bug. Her body emitted a flurry of fuzzy needles, relentlessly bombarding Toxel into submission.

"Toxel, Belch!" called Zane with a smile.

As Toxel was plummeting to the ground, it let out an ear-splitting belch, unleashing a purple wave that crashed into Vivillon, causing her to faint almost instantly. Toxel too succumbed, knocked out by the struggle bug. Just before Toxel could hit the ground, Zane swiftly recalled him, sparing him the drop. Elduran made no such effort; Vivillon landed with a dull thud. He sighed and recalled her.

"Forge, it’s on you!" Elduran announced, noticing Zane’s confident grin. Zane had accurately judged Vivillon to be the greater threat compared to Cyndaquil, and he managed to bring her down using, perhaps, his least formidable Pokémon. His Mienfoo seemed like the danger. Elduran acknowledged Zane's tactical advantage.

Zane reintroduced Mienfoo to the fray. Without delay, he commanded, "Hone Claws!"

"Ember, Forge!" Elduran countered.

Mienfoo began sharpening her claws as Cyndaquil unleashed a fiery ember from his mouth, aiming directly at her. Just as she finished honing, and just before the ember reached her, she swiftly dodged to the side. Without any command, she darted toward Cyndaquil.

"Smoke screen, Cyndaquil!" Elduran shouted, feeling his confidence waning.

"Go in and use Force Palm," Zane instructed.

Cyndaquil enveloped himself and the surrounding area in smoke, but Mienfoo plunged in regardless.

"Sniff him out, evade his attack, and then strike with Ember," Elduran ordered.

Neither trainer could see the ongoing battle. As the smoke cleared, Cyndaquil was emitting a continuous stream of flames toward Mienfoo, who held up her hand, absorbing most of the intense heat to protect her body.

Cyndaquil is definitely upping his game, Elduran thought to himself.

"Alright, Mienfoo, let's end this—Drain Punch!" Zane commanded.

Mienfoo charged headlong at Cyndaquil through the flames, its fist poised for a life-draining energy punch that would heal some of the damage Mienfoo had sustained along the way.

“Dodge swiftly, Forge,” Elduran commanded.

To Elduran's surprise, Cyndaquil evaded the attack just in the nick of time, employing a barely functional quick attack as a means of escape. Not bad, Elduran mused; there was potential there, if only Cyndaquil's attacks weren't so feeble.

“Ember, once more,” Elduran instructed, begrudging the fact that it was the sole viable offensive move in this predicament.

“Detect,” Zane declared confidently.

As the ember neared Mienfoo, it deftly sidestepped with a split-second dodge, almost as if she had teleported. In the blink of an eye, Mienfoo stood before Cyndaquil, executing a Force Palm that paralyzed him and swiftly concluding with a Drain Punch.

Elduran returned Cyndaquil to its Pokéball. “You performed beyond my expectations,” he admitted. He then turned to Zane, “You truly have a knack for being a trainer, kid. A deal is a deal, so I'll let you off the hook today; however, you're still an absolute jerk. Try to show some courtesy to others. You don't need to be kind or polite, just don’t be a dick.”

"Whatever," Zane remarked as he withdrew Mienfoo and made his way toward the town.

Aisha caught up to him, "Wow, that kid's impressive. I searched the database and couldn't find a first-year trainer named Zane. But there is a Zanexanthos. Makes sense to go by Zane, don't you think? What kind of name is that anyway?"

Elduran turned to her and said, "If you ask me, he's exceptionally talented. He wasn't boasting either, likely because he was trained by a skilled mentor. That Toxel has been with him long before his sixteenth birthday. Though not officially his, someone kept it for him as he trained. Mienfoo is indeed a strong Pokémon, so it's plausible to see it become this powerful in a short span if the trainer is adept. Assuming he acquired it at sixteen, it makes sense."

"Damn, you're becoming me in every way," Aisha remarked.

"I'm not turning into you, but I do have a knack for assessing Pokémon strength, you know," Elduran replied.

"Well, his grandfather is none other than Gaidin Freeks. The man who, years ago, dared to challenge the Hoenn champion not once, but six times, reaching the finals on each occasion. Nearly four decades have passed since he faced the previous Hoenn champion. He's also immensely wealthy, commanding the majority of the trucking industry in Hoenn and overseeing the entire network of monorail trucking wagons in Tenera. A decade ago, at the age of 62, he came here, conquered all the gym badges, secured residency, and decided to settle down, all while maintaining his trucking empire in Mauville City, Hoenn."

"But why on earth did he come here?" Elduran inquired.

"His entire family—his wife, his son, his three daughters and their spouses, along with his grandchildren, except for his younger daughter's son, who was only two at the time and remained with him in Mauville City—visited Lavaridge Town to enjoy the hot springs for a weekend, and all perished. I think you can guess the rest," Aisha said.

"Blast it, the Groudon incident—Lavaridge is practically wiped off the map now. I heard it's down to about ten residents. So, this grandson is Zane, and the old man settled here because it’s the only region untouched by Legendary Pokémon attacks?" Elduran inquired.

"As you probably guessed, he wanted to shield his last surviving family member, Zanexanthos," Aisha replied.

"That explains his disdain for the Pokémon league trainers. It all falls into place," Elduran nodded.

"True, he's had a tough run, but I bet Gaidin taught him to battle with Pokémon as soon as he could talk," Elduran mused.

"Look at you, admiring him. Oh, I see it now, you're about the same age—did you start to fancy him?" Elduran teased with a grin.

"What? Absolutely not! That immature kid," Aisha scoffed.

"Oh no, I see what's going on. You want to recruit him. That's a big no from me—no more kids in this operation," Elduran asserted.

"Alright, just throwing it out there. He probably despises the watchers, plus, he's a capable trainer, and you know..." Aisha was interrupted as Elduran interjected.

"If he lives through the next few years and we somehow survive as well, he can join us—or honestly, by then, he might be so powerful that we'd end up joining him," Elduran sighed.

"That's fine with me; you're the one who mentioned wanting a team. But there are a couple of people you should meet. Look, here they come now, from the distance," Aisha pointed out, as a man and a woman approached. Aisha quickly gave him the abridged version of her story with Jabari. She was obviously surprised when he didn’t seem to object to the idea of forming a team, knowing so little about them. All Elduran cared about was that they weren’t part of the Watchers and, like them, held a clear dislike for that group. Now, he just needed to gauge how deep that dislike ran and what measures they were willing to take to counter them.

The man, exactly like Aisha had described, wore a lab coat. The woman appeared to be in her early thirties, with dark skin, fluffy black curly hair, and an athletic build. She donned a white tank top with gray joggers, complemented by white sneakers, and had two Pokéballs clipped to her waist. Jabari also had two Pokéballs.

As they drew nearer, Jabari's fiancé spoke first, her words cutting through the air with precision. "Let's dispense with the pleasantries—the handshakes and all that jazz can wait until we know there's a need for them. If we're not going to work together, there's no point in getting acquainted. What exactly is your aim with the Watchers? Actually, scratch that. We'll go first. Jabari was somewhat frank with Aisha earlier. We're gathering information to expose them, hoping that some government or league can finally put an end to them."

Elduran marveled at her directness; it was his turn to speak. "Wow, straight to the point. I absolutely love it. We share the same objective, but here's where we need to align: at least for myself—though I can't speak for Aisha—I'm willing to kill to keep them from knowing I'm on their trail. Otherwise, I just don't see how we can succeed," Elduran asserted.

"What on earth is wrong with those two?" Aisha burst out, unable to contain herself any longer.

"I cautioned you about her," Jabari said with a sly smile.

"This is bizarre—I don't even know her name," Aisha admitted.

"Her name's Anaya," Jabari interjected on her behalf.

Anaya turned to Jabari, saying, "You see, I told you they are far more serious about this than we are. I don't think we can actually kill anyone. Oh well, it was worth a try."

Jabari locked eyes with her, his face fell, and he murmured, "My love, I don't think we have a choice in this matter. What do you suppose they'll do if they find out we spared any of the Watchers? At least after we've gathered all the information we need from them."

"Fuck," was all Anaya could muster.

"Who are 'they'?" Elduran asked.

Jabari turned to Anaya, studying her intently. She nodded. Jabari then faced Elduran, "We’re working for someone."

"You left that out of our conversation," Aisha interjected angrily.

"Just let him speak. Who are 'they'?" Elduran asked with icy calm.

"This is 'they,'" Jabari announced, raising one of his Pokéballs and allowing it to settle on his palm. It was an Ultra Ball; in fact, both of them were.

"You’re working for a Pokémon? You’ve lost your mind," Elduran exclaimed.

"Oh shit," Aisha muttered, her voice quivering. "I had a feeling this was bound to happen sooner or later. All my theories and suspicions... I just couldn't fathom that none of them would call on us for help. They're actually being manipulated and used as tools even more than our regular Pokémon," Aisha concluded.

"Am I missing something here?" Elduran asked.

"I must say, you seem way smarter than you are," Anaya remarked.

"You’d be surprised how knowledgeable he is about some topics, and how utterly clueless about others," Aisha said to Anaya, then turned her attention to her partner. "Elduran... he has a legendary Pokémon in that ball."