While Frank and Jake were struggling deep beneath the earth, Eva Lindenberg was occupied with a very different kind of adventure—one that involved scientific curiosity rather than life-or-death stakes.
She sat at her desk in the laboratory, fingers poised over her keyboard as she reviewed the latest draft of her article. The subject? The intricate chemical properties of the various powders produced by Bug-type Pokémon—from the paralyzing Stun Spore to the shimmering, defensive Silver Powder. Moreover, the result also depended on Pokémon which created the powder, like Beautifly, Butterfree or Venomoth, each had a little different composition. It was meticulous work, the kind that required focus, and she had just begun a detailed analysis of Ribombee's pollen when—
"Dr. Lindenberg?"
She glanced up to see one of her colleagues, a young researcher, standing in the doorway.
"Dr. Varga wants you in the conference room. Now. Something about a request from the local gym."
Eva sighed, saving her work before standing. A gym request? That was unusual. The Bug Pokémon Research Institute primarily dealt with the biological and ecological aspects of Pokémon, not battle-related concerns. Adjusting her lab coat, she made her way down the hall.
The conference room was already occupied by a handful of researchers, all looking as curious as she felt. Dr. Varga stood at the head of the table, his sharp eyes scanning the room. He was a man who rarely called for meetings unless the situation truly warranted it.
"Thank you all for coming on short notice," he began, his voice crisp and efficient.
"I just received a request for assistance from Iglaustadt's Gym Leader, Simon Bauer. He believes our lab is better equipped to analyze a rather… unusual phenomenon."
Eva raised an eyebrow. Unusual? She grew more curious of what was going on.
The door opened again, and Simon Bauer stepped inside. The gym leader was a sturdy man with sharp features, dust-colored stubble on his face, and a presence that commanded quiet respect. He wasn't one to waste words, and today was no exception.
"I appreciate you all taking the time to meet with me," Bauer said, getting straight to the point. "One of the Magnemite that lives in our gym evolved last night. But… there's something wrong with it."
A few murmurs passed around the room, but Bauer continued before anyone could interrupt.
"We've always had some wild Magnemite near the tunnels. They seem to enjoy being close to the minerals in the caves, and we don't usually interfere. But this one… instead of evolving into a regular Magneton, it became something different. It resembles a Magneton. Also it seems that its typing changed."
Eva tilted her head slightly. Typing changes weren't unheard of, but they were rare in natural evolution. Most regional forms were shaped over generations, not in a single instance.
"At first, I thought my Pokédex was malfunctioning," Bauer admitted.
"But after scanning it multiple times, the result was the same—this Pokémon is part Ground-type. And it's interacting with the environment differently than a normal Magneton should. I brought it here because your lab has better tools for classification than the gym does."
Dr. Varga nodded, tapping a pen against the table.
"Interesting. That does sound like something we should look at. Why don't you show us this Pokémon, Simon?"
Bauer nodded, pulling a Pokéball from his belt. He pressed the button, and with a burst of white light, the strange Magneton appeared before them.
The room fell silent.
It resembled a Magneton in shape—three metallic bodies floating together, the same general structure as its typical evolution. But instead of its usual silver sheen, its metal looked aged, almost rusted, as if it had absorbed the very minerals of the tunnels into its body. Strange, sand-like particles crackled around it, moving through the air as if caught in an invisible current. Its magnets, once sleek and polished, now looked rugged and stone-encrusted, emitting pulses of electromagnetic energy mixed with something… earthy.
Eva's eyes narrowed as she took in the details. This wasn't just a different coloring or a small mutation—this was a true variant, something that had adapted to the deep caves of Iglaustadt in a way no one had seen before.
And that meant they were looking at a discovery.
The air in the lab practically hummed with excitement as every scientist in the room took in the sight of the strange Magneton hovering before them. It was unlike anything they had seen before—its rusted, mineral-coated metal, the faint trickle of sand-like particles around it, and most importantly, the Ground typing confirmed by the Pokédex.
"Fascinating," murmured one of Eva's colleagues, adjusting his glasses as he moved in closer.
"A spontaneous adaptation to the enviroment? No recorded cases of this happening outside of long-term exposure to a suitable medium. This is incredible."
Dr. Varga, his eyes gleaming with intellectual curiosity, straightened his lab coat and spoke with the authority of a man who had just found his next major research project.
"We need to move to the main lab where we can run proper tests. This requires deeper analysis."
Simon Bauer nodded, his reserved demeanor cracking just slightly to reveal his own intrigue. He wasn't a scientist, but he could tell that this discovery meant something big. More importantly, it meant that the Pokémon that lived near his gym weren't behaving in ways they fully understood.
With a few quick instructions from Varga, the group moved into a more advanced section of the lab, where several high-tech machines stood waiting. They placed the Magneton inside a specialized scanning chamber. One by one, the machines hummed to life, analyzing the Pokémon's structure, energy output, and elemental composition.
The results came in rapidly, confirming what the Pokédex had stated—the Pokémon was indeed Ground/Electric-type. More scans followed, detailing its body composition, revealing a unique blend of metallic elements fused with mineral deposits from the caves of Iglaustadt. But then, another reading appeared.
"Hold on," one of the researchers muttered, narrowing his eyes at the data.
"This ability… I don't recognize it. It's not Magnet Pull or Sturdy like a normal Magneton."
Dr. Varga stepped forward, analyzing the results on the screen. After a moment, his eyes widened in recognition.
"This is… Protosynthesis," he announced, turning to face the group.
Eva raised an eyebrow. She was familiar with many Pokémon abilities, but this one wasn't commonly seen outside of very specific circumstances.
"Protosynthesis?" Simon repeated with a frown, folding his arms.
"Never heard of it."
Varga nodded.
"That's not surprising. It's an extremely rare ability, primarily associated with Paradox Pokémon."
A hush fell over the room. Everyone knew about Paradox Pokémon—mysterious creatures thought to be either from the distant past or far future. But the idea that a normal Magnemite could evolve into something with a Paradox ability? That was unheard of.
"Protosynthesis enhances a Pokémon's strongest stat when exposed to intense sunlight or when holding Booster Energy," Varga continued.
"Normally, it's seen in Pokémon that seem… out of place in the modern ecosystem. This Magneton shouldn't have it. And yet, here we are."
Eva exchanged glances with a few of her colleagues. This was more than just an unusual evolution. This was a breakthrough.
Meanwhile, one of the researchers had been flipping through digital archives, scanning old records for anything resembling what they were seeing. Suddenly, he let out a sharp intake of breath.
"I think I found something!" he exclaimed, drawing everyone's attention.
"There's an old text from Paldea—centuries old, actually—that describes a Pokémon just like this one. It even mentions an 'iron-bodied beast with limbs of sand.'"
Eva's mind raced. If this Pokémon had been recorded in Paldea's past, that meant it wasn't just a fluke—it had existed before, possibly in a different region. The implications were staggering.
Dr. Varga nodded, already formulating the next steps for their research.
"Let's continue running tests. I want to see how it interacts with its environment and how it uses its abilities. Start with basic commands and move from there."
As the researchers began issuing simple attack commands to the Magneton, Eva was about to take notes when her phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced at the screen.
Rachel?
Frowning, she excused herself and stepped out into the hallway before answering.
"Eva, hey," Rachel's voice came through, sounding casual but with a hint of concern.
"Sorry to bother you at work, but… have you heard from Frank or Jake?"
Eva's frown deepened. "No, why?"
"They went to town earlier today, but Frank's not picking up his phone. It's probably nothing, but I figured I'd check if they contacted you."
Eva exhaled sharply, crossing one arm over her ample chest. "I haven't heard from either of them all day."
She was about to ask if Rachel had tried calling again when she heard movement from down the hall. Turning her head, she saw Simon Bauer exiting the restroom, wiping his hands with a paper towel.
He had clearly overheard her side of the conversation.
The gym leader hesitated for only a moment before approaching.
"Everything alright?"
Eva gave him a considering look before answering.
"It's my brother and my son. They went to town, but Frank isn't answering his phone. Rachel isn't too worried yet, but it's… unusual."
Simon's expression shifted—there was a flicker of guilt behind his eyes. He knew Eva's family had already suffered one terrible incident in his gym when her niece Monika had been kidnapped and taken to the distortion world. He had apologized before, but the regret still lingered.
"Your son and niece were the ones in the Distortion World, right?" he asked after a pause.
"I… I never said this properly, but I regret that there weren't any trainers available when that happened."
Eva shook her head, waving off his concern.
"That's in the past. But right now, I need to figure out where Frank and Jake are."
Simon nodded, his expression sharpening.
"Then let's do that. I want to help."
Eva hesitated for only a moment before nodding in agreement.
"Alright. They went to town to get supplies. I can tell you which stores they were probably visiting."
Simon listened carefully as she listed the places Frank and Jake might have gone. Then, his expression turned serious.
"As a gym leader, I have certain privileges. I'll call the local police and ask for a favor—see if they can check the security cameras around those locations."
Eva blinked in surprise. She had been prepared to go store to store herself, but this was much faster.
"You can do that??" she asked in surprise.
"As I said, certain privileges!" Simon grinned at her.
"Thank you," she breathed out sincerely.
Simon didn't waste time. Pulling out his phone, he stepped aside and made the call. Within moments, he had reached someone at the police department and explained the situation, asking them to review footage around the listed stores.
After finishing the call, he turned back to Eva.
"They'll start looking now. If they see anything unusual, they'll let me know immediately."
Eva exhaled, some of the tension leaving her shoulders.
"I appreciate it, Simon."
He gave a small nod before motioning back toward the lab.
"In the meantime, let's get back inside. There's still a lot to figure out about that Paldean Magneton."
Eva agreed, and together, they reentered the laboratory—both now with a mystery to solve.
Back in the lab, the air buzzed with both excitement and tension. The strange Magneton hovered steadily as more tests were run, its unusual body shifting slightly with every movement. Scientists continued recording data, documenting everything from its resistance to electric currents to how its magnetic field interacted with the environment.
One researcher, eager to push its defensive capabilities, suggested a mock battle. Using a steel-type Pokémon to test its resistance, they quickly realized that the Magneton's Ground typing gave it full immunity to electric attacks. More astonishingly, its Protosynthesis ability kicked in when exposed to simulated harsh sunlight, boosting its Attack stat significantly.
Simon watched with arms crossed, absorbing the information.
"This thing isn't just different—it's something entirely new," he muttered, "I can't wait to start training it and using it against challengers. It's gonna be a blast!"
Eva, despite her concerns for her missing family, remained professional and jotted down quick notes. But before they could run further tests, Simon's phone vibrated in his pocket. Checking the screen, his expression shifted.
"It's the police," he said quickly, already motioning for Eva to follow.
She set her notebook down and hurried after him into the hallway. Once the door was shut behind them, Simon put the caller on speaker.
"What did you find?" he asked, his voice filled with urgency.
A voice of local officer Jenny answered, "We checked the security feeds from the locations you mentioned. Most of them didn't show anything unusual… but then we found something at the old town gate."
Eva's breath caught in her throat. "What did you see?"
"Frank Procházka and Jake Lindenberg were at the gate when they were teleported away," the officer reported.
Eva's stomach dropped. "Teleported? By who?!"
"That's unclear. The footage doesn't show another person, but we see them disappearing in a clear flash of teleportation energy."
Her pulse quickened. This was no simple case of a missing call or a broken phone—something had happened. She turned sharply to Simon, panic creeping into her voice.
"I need to find them!"
Simon immediately stepped closer, his voice calm but firm.
"Calm down. I'll help you."
His tone was steady, reassuring. Eva took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but the idea of her six-year-old son vanishing was enough to make her heart race.
They turned back to the lab, where the scientists were still analyzing the Magneton. Without hesitation, Eva approached Dr. Varga.
"Boss, I need to leave," she said, her voice laced with urgency. "My son and brother have disappeared. They were teleported away from the old town gate."
Varga's brow furrowed, but he didn't hesitate.
"Understood. If they were teleported, tracking them might be difficult… but," he gestured to a Kadabra resting in the corner of the lab, watching the scene unfold with keen eyes.
"I'll lend you our Kadabra. It's trained to sense psychic traces. It may be able to track the teleport's destination."
Eva's head snapped toward the Pokémon. "That could work!"
She turned back to Varga, grateful.
"Thank you."
Varga gave a curt nod.
"Bring them all back in one piece."
Simon and Eva wasted no time, leaving the building with Kadabra following closely behind them.
The town square was quieter than usual, but the tension in Eva's chest only grew as they reached the spot where the teleportation had occurred. The gate loomed in front of them, an old structure that had stood for centuries—now the site of an unsettling mystery.
Eva knelt down, scanning the area for any clues, while Simon pulled out his phone.
"Here," he said, opening a video file.
"The police sent me the footage."
Eva watched as the grainy footage played on his screen. Frank and Jake were standing at the gate, seemingly in conversation, when—without warning—a flash of light enveloped them. A moment later, they were gone.
She exhaled sharply and turned to the Kadabra.
"You saw that, right?"
The Psychic-type Pokémon's eyes gleamed with understanding. It stepped forward, placing its three-fingered hands against the air where the teleport had occurred. The air around them shimmered slightly, and Kadabra's spoon began to tremble as it focused.
Eva held her breath.
"It's trying to track the energy signature," Simon muttered.
As Kadabra continued its work, Simon reached for a Pokéball on his belt.
Eva glanced at him.
"Good call."
Simon's expression was unreadable, but his grip on the Pokéball tightened.
"You know, if someone teleported them away, we have no idea where they were taken—or by who. If this leads us to an enemy, we need to be ready."
Eva nodded. Simon had a point. Her fingers moved to her own Pokéball, her mind racing through possible scenarios. If Frank and Jake had been taken against their will… whoever did it might not appreciate them following.
The minutes stretched on as Kadabra concentrated, the air around it vibrating faintly with psychic energy.
Then, finally, it opened its eyes and turned to Eva.
She stepped closer.
"Did you find them?"
Kadabra nodded once.
Her pulse spiked.
"Can you take us there?"
Another nod. The yellow Pokémon raised its spoon, its body glowing with psychic energy.
Simon shot one last look at Eva, his voice low but serious.
"Whatever happens next, be ready."
Eva exhaled and braced herself.
A bright white light engulfed them.
Then, in a flash of energy, they vanished.
The white light of teleportation faded, leaving Eva and Simon disoriented for a moment as they adjusted to their new surroundings. The air was damp, and the walls around them were rough stone, uneven and cracked in places. A faint echo of dripping water resonated in the distance.
Eva took a deep breath, steadying herself.
"Where… are we?" she murmured, squinting in the darkness.
Simon, however, recovered almost immediately. As a ground-type specialist, he was used to caves, tunnels, and underground terrain. He pressed a hand against the rocky wall, feeling the texture beneath his fingers.
"Judging by the mineral density and air pressure…"
He exhaled through his nose.
"We're deep. Probably below any known mapped tunnels."
A soft chime from Kadabra caught their attention. The psychic-type held its spoon aloft, its eyes glowing for a brief second before a brilliant light flared up around them, illuminating the space. Whether it was Flash or some variation of the move, Eva wasn't sure, but the effect was immediate—they could see.
Simon pulled two Pokéballs from his belt and tossed them forward.
"Come out—let's move."
In a flash of red, a powerful Excadrill emerged, its metal claws gleaming in the sudden light, followed by a vigilant Krookodile, its piercing eyes scanning the tunnels.
Eva nodded and quickly followed suit, tossing two Pokéballs of her own.
"Lenny, Tobias, we might need your help."
Her Venomoth, Lenny, fluttered into the air, its wings shimmering with faint traces of scattering powder, while Tobias the Galvantula landed on the ground with a soft thud, his multiple eyes flickering as he assessed the environment.
Simon immediately turned to his Pokémon.
"Excadrill, check the walls. Any loose ground or tunnels we can use? Krookodile, see if you can feel any vibrations—movement, Pokémon, people—anything."
Excadrill pressed its claws against the rocky surface, scraping slightly as it listened for hollow spaces or weaker points in the stone. Krookodile, on the other hand, pressed its snout to the ground, remaining motionless for a moment before huffing and shaking its head.
Before Simon could say anything, Kadabra suddenly made a sharp motion with its spoon and pointed down a specific tunnel.
Eva frowned.
"That way?"
Kadabra nodded.
Simon crossed his arms.
"Think you can teleport us closer?"
Kadabra shook its head firmly.
Eva sighed.
"Right. You know, some moves like Teleport have a cooldown period. The stronger the jump, the longer it takes to recover."
Simon let out a breath.
"Figures."
He turned to the others.
"Alright, looks like we're walking. Stay close and keep your guard up."
Eva nodded, glancing at her Pokémon.
"Lenny, Tobias, keep an eye out for anything unusual."
With that, they pressed forward, heading deeper into the unknown tunnels.
Eva's heart pounded in her chest as they moved cautiously through the dark tunnels. The further they walked, the more anxious she became.
Where are you, Jakey?
Her mind raced with terrifying possibilities.
Was her son injured?
Was Frank hurt?
Were they trapped somewhere, waiting for help?
Simon, walking slightly ahead, was much calmer. His sharp eyes scanned the walls, taking in the signs left behind by a past battle. He reached out and ran his fingers over a jagged dent in the stone.
"Rock impact," he muttered.
"Looks like a powerful hit."
Eva stepped closer, inspecting the damaged wall. It didn't take her long to connect the dots.
"That could've been Boldore's Rock Blast," she said, her voice tight.
She glanced further down the tunnel, where blackened scorch marks marred the ground and walls. Her breath caught in her throat.
"…And those. That might be from Pyroar's Flamethrower."
Simon nodded, his expression growing more serious.
"Looks like Frank ran into trouble."
Eva clenched her fists. Why? Who would someone attack Frank and Jake down here? Why was there evidence of a battle, but no sign of any enemy Pokémon or trainers?
As they moved forward, they came across several crossroads, each splitting into two or three tunnels. But thanks to Kadabra's psychic abilities and Eva's Pokémon strong bond with her family, they were able to choose the correct paths quickly. Her Galvantula, Tobias, twitched its legs and followed a faint electric trace, while Lenny, her Venomoth, flitted forward, sensing familiar presences.
Unlike Frank and Jake's journey, they encountered no ambushes from wild Pokémon. The tunnels were eerily silent, save for the occasional distant echo of dripping water. It didn't sit right with either of them.
Simon voiced what they were both thinking.
"Someone or something attacked Frank… but now there's nothing?"
His eyes narrowed as they passed another set of deep claw marks on the stone floor.
"It's like whatever was down here disappeared."
Eva didn't answer. Her thoughts were clouded with worry.
Then—voices.
Simon suddenly lifted his hand, signaling for silence. Eva held her breath, and they pressed against the tunnel walls as faint shouting echoed from deeper within. They moved carefully, creeping closer.
The voices grew louder.
Finally, they reached the edge of a large cave room, peering through an opening.
Eva's eyes widened. The scene before them was bizarre and unsettling.
A line of people stood against one wall—at least a dozen men and women—all with tense, rigid postures. Their faces were blank, yet there was something defeated in their eyes.
A huge, muscular man paced in front of them, barking insults and commands.
"Pathetic! Weaklings! How did you even let them escape?!"
His deep voice tinged with strange accent boomed through the cavern.
"I trained you all, gave you orders, and you failed! Absolutely USELESS!"
Several of the standing people flinched as he continued his rant.
Scattered nearby were injured Pokémon, some of them bruised and unconscious. But one stood out—the massive, intimidating Feraligatr lay on its side, covered in scratches and burn marks, its breathing heavy.
Simon's eyes narrowed at the sight. Eva felt her stomach twist.
What is going on here?
Simon gestured for the group to fall back slightly into the tunnel. Once they were out of immediate earshot, he turned to Eva. His voice was low and firm.
"We need a plan."
Simon crouched slightly, his brow furrowed as he considered the situation.
"We need to hit them fast and hard. If we give them time to react, we're just inviting trouble."
He gestured toward his Excadrill and Krookodile.
"Excadrill could use Drill Run from underground to scatter them, or I could have Krookodile use Rock Slide to block off any exits before we charge in."
Eva, arms crossed, shook her head.
"That's too risky. We don't even know how many of them are there or what Pokémon they have left. If we rush in now, we might miss our chance to get Frank and Jake before they're teleported away again."
Simon exhaled sharply, considering her point.
"That's true… but if we just sit and wait for Kadabra's Teleport to recharge, we're letting the poachers regroup. If they're the ones who teleported Frank and Jake in the first place, we have a chance to stop them now before they disappear again."
Eva frowned, clearly torn, then her eyes lit up.
"What if we don't attack head-on? What if we set them up and ambush them?"
Simon quirked a brow.
"I'm listening."
Eva glanced around her shoulders and her eyes stopped at the large moth creature.
"Lenny can spread Sleep Powder or Poison Powder across the cave. If we weaken them before they even know we're here, they won't be able to fight back properly."
Simon scratched his chin, nodding.
"Good idea in theory, but your Venomoth's quite big. They'll see it right away, and if they're smart, they'll just recall their Pokémon before the powder hits. Or worse, knock it out and we are in the open."
Eva smirked.
"And what do you think about Britney?"
She tossed a Pokéball into the air, and her Ribombee emerged with a graceful twirl of its tiny body.
===
Ribombee
Level: 24 to 29
Name: Britney
Gender: Female
Type: Bug / Fairy
Affinity: Bug (Full), Fairy (Full), Flying (Beginning)
Moves: Fairy Wind (21 to 26), Pollen Puff (23 to 29), Draining Kiss (23), Psychic (19), Struggle Bug (23 to 28), Dazzling Gleam (22 to 24), Bug Buzz (23), Quiver Dance (20 to 23), Reflect (17), Light Screen (15), Acrobatics (19 to 20), Swift (18), Agility (20 to 22)
Abilities:
Shield Dust – Protective dust shields Ribombee from the additional effects of the moves
Sweet Veil – Prevents Ribombee and its allies from falling asleep
Weak to: Flying, Poison, Rock, Steel, Fire
Immune to: Dragon
Resistant to: Fighting (2x), Ground, Bug, Grass, Dark
===
"She's small, only a two-star Pokémon, but she can control her Pollen Puff well enough that we can set them off whenever we want."
Simon folded his arms, impressed but still skeptical.
"That's a great surprise attack, but if a Ribombee suddenly starts scattering pollen around, they're going to get suspicious. We need a distraction."
As the two thought it over, their eyes slowly drifted toward Simon's Excadrill and Krookodile.
They shared a glance.
"Of course," Simon muttered.
Eva grinned.
"Those two can create just enough tremors to throw them off balance. A small Earthquake, just enough to shake things up."
Simon nodded approvingly.
"Then while they're focused on that, your Ribombee can spread its Pollen Puff around the cave, and when we trigger it, we catch them completely off-guard. Smart."
Eva's expression turned serious.
"Once they're weakened, we need to make sure they can't fight back. Tobias' Electroweb and Lenny's Stun Spore will paralyze them."
Simon pointed at her.
"Agree. You focus on the poachers—I'll handle their Pokémon."
Then he turned to his Pokémon.
"Krookodile, we will use your Intimidate ability. It will make them hesitate, and once the battle starts, use your Shadow Claw and Dark Pulse. Try draw most of the Pokémon to you. Excadrill, you'll fight from the underground. Use Dig repeatedly and pick them off one by one."
Eva took a deep breath.
"That makes sense… but we should power up first, too. No reason to go in cold."
"Good call!"
They nodded in agreement and turned to their Pokémon.
"Alright, let's get ready."
Eva commanded:
"Lenny, Britney, use Quiver Dance and Tobias, you use Agility."
The two flying Pokémon started flying in circles, boosting their Speed, Special Attack, and Special Defense. Meanwhile Tobias started to focus and white aura appeared around its body, quickening its movements for faster attacks.
Simon instructed:
"Krookodile, you start with Bulk Up and Excadrill, you use Sword Dance."
Both Pokémon started to glow with energy, in Krookodile's case increasing Attack and Defense and in Excadrill's case boosting Attack power. .
Once their Pokémon were properly boosted, Simon signaled Excadrill.
"Go underground and get into position. As soon as you feel ready, start a low-level Earthquake—enough to shake them up, but don't bring the whole cave down on us."
Excadrill burrowed deep into the rocky terrain, vanishing into the ground like a knife through butter.
Then, as soon as the ground trembled beneath their feet and the poachers stumbled in confusion, Britney the Ribombee darted into the cave, unseen, and began releasing its Pollen Puff into the air.
Now all that remained was waiting for the moment to strike.
The ground shook violently under Excadrill's efforts, the vibrations rattling loose rocks from the cave walls and causing the poachers to stumble slightly. In the confusion, Britney the Ribombee darted undetected through the open space, its delicate wings barely making a sound. It twirled gracefully as fine golden powder fell from its body, spreading a Pollen Puff mist throughout the cavern. The small fairy Pokémon was methodical, ensuring that every corner of the cave was lightly coated with the powder, which would later explode into a burst of stunning and weakening energy on Eva's command.
Meanwhile, Simon and Eva crouched low, hidden at the entrance of the cave, watching the events unfold.
"Krookodile, prepare Rock Slide, in case they notice us!"
Simon whispered, keeping his eyes locked on the scene.
"Lenny, you too," Eva muttered towards her Venomoth.
"If they move, use Confusion to throw them off, then follow up with Stun Spore to incapacitate them."
Inside the cave, the poacher boss—a towering, broad-shouldered man with short blond hair and a deep scowl—continued yelling insults at his subordinates. He paced back and forth, his boots echoing against the cavern walls. His words were laced with disdain, calling them "useless," "weak," and "unworthy of his time." The line of poachers stood rigidly against the cave wall, most of them avoiding eye contact with their furious leader.
But then, something unexpected happened.
The Feraligatr, which had been lying injured among the Pokémon in the cave, suddenly pushed itself to its feet. The large blue reptilian Pokémon snarled, its powerful tail slamming against the ground as its eyes flashed with curiosity. It took a few steps forward, claws twitching, then suddenly focused energy into its right arm. A deep green glow surrounded its muscular limb before it slammed its fist into the rocky floor with a devastating Wood Hammer attack.
BOOM.
The shockwave from the impact ripped through the cave, sending cracks along the cavern walls and throwing loose stones into the air. The sheer force of the blow launched Excadrill out of the ground, sending the steel mole tumbling through the air before it landed with a heavy thud.
Simon cursed under his breath.
"Shit! That thing's detected us! We need to speed this up!"
Before Excadrill could react, Feraligatr lunged forward, its other arm glowing with another Wood Hammer, ready to strike again.
Simon acted fast.
"Now, Krookodile—Rock Slide!"
With a fierce growl, Krookodile stomped on the ground, and suddenly, a massive amount of boulders appeared above Feraligatr, crashing down upon it with force.
For a moment, it looked like the attack had worked—Feraligatr was buried under the heavy rocks. But then, a deep, guttural roar echoed through the cave, and the boulders exploded outward as the massive crocodilian Pokémon burst free from the rubble, its rage intensifying.
Eva reacted quickly.
"Lenny, use Confusion—grab those rocks and send them flying at the other Pokémon!"
===
Venomoth
Level: 58 to 59
Name: Lenny
Gender: Female
Type: Bug / Poison
Affinity: Bug (Full), Poison (Full), Flying (Advanced)
Moves: Quiver Dance (49 to 54), Disable (44 to 45), Gust (38 to 43), Supersonic (42), Air Slash (37), Confusion (55 to 57), Poison Powder (57 to 58), Stun Spore (54), Bug Buzz (52), Leech Life (48), Sleep Powder (53), Zen Headbutt (47), Poison Fang (44 to 47), Protect (37 to 39), Acrobatics (42), Struggle Bug (43), Venoshock (45 to 46)
Abilities:
Shield Dust – Prevents secondary effects of moves from affecting Venomoth
Tinted Lens – Powers up "not very effective" moves
Weak to: Flying, Rock, Fire, Psychic
Resistant to: Fighting (double), Poison, Bug, Grass, Fairy
===
The loose boulders that had been scattered across the battlefield suddenly lifted into the air, surrounded by a faint psychic glow. Then, with a flick of Venomoth's wings, they shot forward, striking several of the poachers' Pokémon and knocking some of them out instantly.
"Help us, Tobias, stop that thing!"
===
Galvantula
Level: 51 to 53
Name: Tobias
Gender: Male
Type: Bug / Electric
Affinity: Bug (Full), Electric (Full)
Moves: Absorb (42), Furry Cutter (45 to 47), Electroweb (50 to 52), Double Team (25 to 30), Bug Bite (44 to 45), String Shot (45 to 48), Sticky Web (48 to 50), Electro Ball (45 to 51), Thunder Wave (38 to 41), Agility (29 to 32), Screech (36), Endure (32), Rain Dance (35), Thunder (41), Volt Switch (37), Leech Life (38), Energy Ball (32), Wild Charge (26), Hyper Beam (21 to 25), Lunge (24), Cross Poison (29)
Abilities:
Compound Eyes – Boosts the accuracy of Galvantula's moves
Swarm – With low health, Galvantula's Bug-type moves are powered up
Weak to: Rock, Fire
Resistant to: Fighting, Steel, Grass, Electric
===
The Galvantula flashed across the cave, moving with lightning speed thanks to its earlier Agility boost. It skittered across the rocky floor and then suddenly leapt into the air, launching a super-effective Electroweb at the rampaging Feraligatr. The thick, crackling webbing wrapped around the Pokémon's massive form, paralyzing it in place.
Simon turned toward Eva with a sharp look.
"You're supposed to handle the poachers!"
Eva grimaced, realizing she had been caught up in the battle.
"Right—Lenny, forget the rocks! Use Sleep Powder—then send it towards the poachers with Gust!"
Venomoth beat its wings, releasing a thick greenish cloud of powder before sending it surging toward the henchmen with a single gust of wind.
Most of the henchmen didn't stand a chance. One by one, they slumped to the ground, unconscious, unable to resist the effects of the sleep-inducing spores. But before the cloud could reach the poacher boss, he suddenly threw out another Pokéball.
A towering Malamar emerged from the flash of red light.
The dark-purple squid-like Pokémon stood at nearly two meter tall, its body covered in hypnotic bioluminescent patterns that glowed faintly in the dim cave light. Its long, twisting tentacles writhed slightly, and its large, eerie eyes gleamed with intelligence and cruelty.
As soon as it appeared, Malamar extended one of its tentacles, and a strange, purplish glow filled the air. The incoming Sleep Powder stopped midair before suddenly dissipating.
Eva blinked in surprise.
"It just—canceled it out?"
Before she could react, Kadabra suddenly let out a pained, distorted cry. The psychic Pokémon clutched its head, making a deep, unpleasant growl.
Eva turned to it, concerned.
"Kadabra, what's wrong?"
The psychic Pokémon grunted, pointed at Malamar and suddenly made its spoon vanish and reappear in a different spot, warping it from place to place rapidly in what seemed to be a signal.
Eva frowned, watching the unusual display. Then realization struck.
"Wait… you're saying—that Malamar is the one who teleported away Jakey and Frank?"
Kadabra nodded firmly.
Simon narrowed his eyes at the poacher boss.
"This just keeps getting worse. Let's move in and end this. I go against the Malamar, you take care of Feraligatr!"
Before Eva could reply, Simon was already running in and shouting commands to his Pokémon.
"Krookodile, attack that Malamar with Night Slash. Excadrill, you use Metal Claw."
Both Pokémon started to gather energy in their claws and began running towards the large octopus.
"Alright, let's finish that Feraligatr."
Eva turned towards her Venomoth.
"Use Poison Powder and then sent it with Gust! And you Tobias, hit with your strongest Thunder!"
The Feraligatr was already very exhausted from its previous fight against Frank and now it was paralyzed thanks to Galvantula's Electroweb. Therefore, both attacks were able to hit it head-on.
Unlike Eva's opponent, Simon's Pokémon had bigger problems. The Malamar turned towards the charging duo and made a strange sound. It made both Krookodile and Excadrill stop.
Then the boss suddenly let out a confused exclamation, his expression shifting from fury to surprise.
"Simon? Was machst du hier?"
Simon's entire body stiffened at the voice. He took a step forward, his Krookodile momentarily hesitating in its attack.
"Helmut?" Simon frowned, recognition dawning in his eyes.
"Is that you?"
Eva's gaze flickered between the two men, confusion and concern mixing in her expression. They knew each other?
And for the first time, the battle seemed to pause, as the past came crashing into the present.
The air inside the cavern was thick with tension, the stench of sweat, dirt, and Pokémon fur mixing with the lingering traces of Pollen Puff powder. The poacher boss stood tall, broad-shouldered and imposing, his cruel smirk widening as his gaze settled on Simon.
"Well, well, well," he sneered, his deep voice echoing off the cavern walls.
"If it isn't my old friend. Was machst du hier? Have you come to visit me in my humble little home?"
Simon's fists clenched, his jaw tightening.
"I could ask you the same thing," he responded evenly. His sharp eyes flickered toward the group of sleeping poachers behind Helmut.
"I'm tracking my friends. But what the hell are you doing here?"
Helmut's grin widened, his yellowed teeth flashing under the dim cave light.
"Friends?" he echoed mockingly. Then, his voice dropped into a low growl.
"You don't mean that verdammter Ranger and that annoying little brat?"
A sudden, furious female growl cut through the cave.
"My son is no annoying brat, you filthy bastard!"
Eva's voice was filled with rage and raw emotion, her entire body shaking. The moment those words left Helmut's mouth, something inside her snapped.
Helmut's icy eyes flickered to her, slowly raking over her body with a twisted smirk.
"Und wer bist du denn?" he asked with an ugly chuckle, his gaze filled with lecherous intent.
Eva's skin crawled, but before she could respond, Simon stepped in sharply.
"That's none of your business, Helmut!" Simon snapped, stepping forward, partially shielding Eva from his former friend's gaze.
Helmut chuckled darkly.
"Oh, but I think it is," he said smoothly.
"You're clearly connected to that verdammter Procházka son-of-a-bitch. That means… I should be very careful with you."
His smirk twisted into something uglier, more sinister.
"I'm not sure what to do with you just yet. Should I kill you first?"
He let the words linger in the air, watching Eva's reaction. Then his voice dropped into something more vile.
"Or… should I take my time first?"
His grin widened as he took a slow step forward.
"Wer weiß? Maybe you'll even enjoy it, Schlampe."
Simon gulped, a cold pit forming in his stomach as he realized that his former friend was beyond saving. The man who had once been his close ally was now a complete monster.
Eva's face turned red with fury, her fingers twitching towards her Pokéballs.
But before anyone could move—
Feraligatr roared.
A sudden, violent crack shattered the tense moment as the paralyzed water-type broke free from Electroweb with a powerful flex of its massive arms. The energy around it flared, and before Tobias and Lenny could react, Feraligatr lashed out with a brutal Slash attack.
Both Pokémon barely managed to dodge, skidding backward as the air was sliced apart by the force of the overpowered attack.
Helmut let out a laugh, a disgusting sound that echoed in the cavern.
"Oh, I think I'll enjoy this."
His gaze flickered to Eva again.
"Schreie für mich, ja?"
Eva's rage boiled over.
"Lenny, Britney—NOW!"
The moment Eva's command left her lips, the entire cave exploded into chaos.
Venomoth barely had time to retreat before it threw up a shimmering green Protect barrier, shielding Simon, Eva, and their Pokémon as Ribombee's Pollen Puff ignited the entire cave.
A deafening boom echoed through the chamber as dust, debris, and energy ripped through the air. The explosion sent rocks flying, and even the massive Malamar and battle-hardened Feraligatr flinched as burning energy lashed at them.
Simon didn't waste the opening.
"Now! Go!" he shouted at his Pokémon.
They heard him, but something was wrong.
"Krookodile! Excadrill! Attack Malamar!"
His Pokémon did not move.
Instead, they hesitated, their gazes locked on the looming Malamar.
"What the hell are you waiting for?!"
Simon growled.
"It's not the same Inkay you knew before—attack it!"
The hesitation in their eyes deepened, but before Simon could shout another command, Malamar's eyes flashed.
A sinister, warping pressure filled the air, and Krookodile and Excadrill stiffened, as if something unnatural was gripping their minds.
Simon felt his breath hitch.
"What the hell is it doing?!"
Eva, however, had more luck.
"Tobias, another Thunder! Lenny, use Venoshock!"
From the ceiling of the cave, a jagged bolt of electricity suddenly slammed into Feraligatr, causing the massive reptile to roar in pain as its body convulsed.
Then, before it could recover, Venomoth fired multiple purple globs of poison from its wings. The Venoshock hit Feraligatr directly, and because it was already poisoned, the attack's power doubled.
Feraligatr let out a choked roar, its knees buckling.
Simon watched Malamar, gritting his teeth.
"Britney, help them! Fairy Wind—follow up with Dazzling Gleam!" Eva shouted.
The tiny Ribombee fluttered forward, wings glowing, before it whipped up a gust of shimmering fairy energy, sending it straight toward Malamar.
As the wind struck, Malamar twitched, its eerie eyes narrowing slightly.
Britney immediately followed up, charging up a powerful Dazzling Gleam. The moment the attack fired, a bright pinkish-white burst of fairy energy illuminated the cavern, slamming into Malamar.
For the first time—Malamar flinched.
Eva and Simon felt a rush of hope—
Until Malamar straightened.
As if nothing had happened.
Eva's stomach dropped.
"That didn't even faze it?!"
Helmut let out a low, nasty laugh.
"Pathetic."
He grinned.
"You've got to do better than that, you dumb bitch."
Before Eva could react, Malamar's eyes gleamed with dark power—and then, in the blink of an eye, it fired a Dark Pulse straight at Ribombee.
Britney didn't even have time to react.
The dark wave of energy slammed into the tiny Pokémon with a sickening impact, sending it flying backward.
"No!"
Eva cried out.
Britney was falling towards the cave floor, its small body twitching once and then going completely still.
"Britney!" Eva rushed forward, barely managing to recall the fainted Pokémon to its Pokéball before it hit the ground.
Helmut let out a dark, victorious chuckle.
"What now, you useless bitch?" he sneered.
Eva's hands clenched around Britney's Pokéball, her eyes burning with fear and fury.
This wasn't over.
Not by a long shot.
Lenny the Venomoth seeing her fallen friend get into furious frenzy and immediately used Confusion to start bombarding Malamar with many rocks lying around the cave. Because Lenny was one of Eva's best Pokémon and she was particularly good with her psychic-type moves as she usually assist her trainer in the kitchen with various task, she was now able to throw a really great number of rocks at the enemy in the same time.
Now, Malamar was pushed back a little. It was only able to shoot down several first rocks with its Dark Pulse, but Venomoth was pushing more and more.
"Stop that fucking bug!"
Helmut growled annoyed by Eva's Pokémon.
Malamar eyes started to shine with energy and it used its own psychic powers. But Eva knew how to answer to that.
"Lenny, Struggle Bug!" she called out.
The Venomoth was already gripped with the Psychic, but now it became surrounded by a red aura. After a few seconds, several streaks of light green energy beams were released from her body and fired at Malamar.
Malamar, due to its double weakness to this move, started to shiver as it was hit and also its attack power got suddenly decreased.
"Follow up with Bug Buzz!"
Another super-effective move and Venomoth easily shook off the grip by Psychic. Malamar shifted its evil look from Venomoth to Venomoth's trainer.
Eva gulped and made a step back.
Then Malamar fired a powerful Flamethrower at her.
Lenny quickly flew down in front of Eva and activated another Protect.
Malamar kept the Flamethrower going almost a minute. But then the Protect barrier broke down and Flamethrower hit Venomoth and sent her flying towards Eva, knocking them both to the ground.
"That's where you belong. On the ground." the poacher laughed.
Then Malamar turned towards Simon and his Pokémon, who were just watching the exchange with worry and fear in his eyes.
Simon gritted his teeth, sensing that something was about to go very wrong.
"Excadrill, Krookodile—get ready!"
Malamar moved first.
With a distorted, warping cry, its long, writhing tentacles surged forward, glowing with eerie, psychic energy. In an instant, Malamar struck out with a Psycho Cut, its blades of psychic force slicing toward its foes with terrifying speed.
"Defend yourselves! Iron Head, Sand Tomb!" Simon barked.
Excadrill lowered its steel-plated head, aiming to charge through the attack with Iron Head, while Krookodile braced itself and summoned a sandy shield from the ground to defend itself.
But Malamar was faster.
With a wicked flick of its tentacle, it twisted the Psycho Cut at the last second, curving the energy blades around their defenses and striking them from behind.
"What?!" Simon's eyes widened in horror.
Both Pokémon stumbled, their countermeasures completely useless against Malamar's supernatural agility.
And it wasn't finished.
Before they could recover, Malamar lunged forward, its tentacles wreathed in dark energy as it unleashed a brutal Knock Off.
SMASH!
Excadrill took the full force of the blow. The steel mole was sent hurtling backward, slamming into a cave wall with a sickening crack.
"Excadrill!"
The Pokémon collapsed, its body twitching once before going completely still.
Simon felt a cold pit form in his stomach as he recalled the fainted Excadrill.
"Tch!" Helmut scoffed, his arms crossing smugly.
"A Gym Leader, ja? You can't even handle one of my Pokémon? How embarrassing."
Simon ignored him, focusing on Krookodile. His ace Pokémon was still standing—but barely.
Malamar, its tentacles still glowing with energy, coiled back, preparing to launch another overpowered move.
If that hit—Krookodile would go down next.
Then—
"Lenny!!"
Eva meanwhile picked up herself from the ground and now she asked her exhausted moth partner to help one more time.
Venomoth's tired eyes flashed as her focused the psychic power, yanking several large rocks from the ground and hurling them between Krookodile and Malamar.
Malamar's Dark Pulse struck the rocks instead, blasting them into dust—and Krookodile was unharmed.
At the same time, Feraligatr roared, thrashing violently in an attempt to break free.
But Galvantula was ready.
"Tobias! Use Electroweb, one more time! Keep it down!" Eva cried desperately.
The spider Pokémon darted forward, spinning a crackling web of electricity between its front legs before hurling it toward the massive water-type.
The web expanded, spreading over Feraligatr's body, tightening like chains as electricity coursed through it. The giant Pokémon shuddered, its limbs locking up once more as paralysis took hold again.
"Lenny, be careful!" Eva called out.
Venomoth fluttered higher, keeping a safe distance while readying another attack.
"Lenny, use Bug Buzz again!"
A high-pitched, vibrating sound filled the air as Venomoth's wings flapped at incredible speed, sending out waves of disruptive sound energy.
Malamar flinched, its body shuddering from the intense vibrations.
"Now, Stun Spore!"
A thick cloud of golden spores spread from Venomoth's wings, drifting toward Malamar—
But Malamar's eyes flashed.
With a single thought, the cloud of spores stopped midair, caught in the grip of Psychic energy. Then, with a savage jerk, Malamar redirected the spores, scattering them harmlessly away.
And then—Malamar fired back.
A massive Dark Pulse shot straight toward Venomoth.
"Confusion! Protect yourself!"
Venomoth yanked more rocks from the ground, pulling them up just in time as the Dark Pulse struck.
BOOM!
The impact obliterated the rocks, turning them into fine dust—but Venomoth was untouched.
Then, without hesitation—
"Bug Buzz!"
The sonic assault struck again, and this time, Venomoth dove forward, closing the distance between itself and Malamar.
"Leech Life!"
Venomoth smashed into Malamar, its wings slicing into its body, forcing it backward and sucking energy from it.
Simon, seeing his chance, gritted his teeth.
"Krookodile, Night Slash!"
Krookodile pushed itself up, its claws glowing with dark energy, and charged forward.
Venomoth broke away, flying upwards just as Krookodile reached Malamar.
Then—
SLASH!
Krookodile raked its claws across Malamar's body, landing one, two, three powerful strikes in succession.
Simon exhaled with relief.
"Finally… You're fighting."
He muttered.
"Was it… because of Excadrill?"
But the battle was far from over.
Malamar shrieked, countering with a Flamethrower, its body surging with raw energy.
Krookodile dodged to the side, avoiding a direct hit.
Venomoth, still above, used Confusion to fling another set of rocks at Malamar, timing it so Krookodile wouldn't get hit.
The cavern shook, cracks splitting through the stone walls as the force of their battle sent debris flying everywhere.
Meanwhile, Galvantula had finished Feraligatr.
"Thunder!"
Eva called with desperation in her voice.
A massive lightning bolt crashed down, striking the water-type dead on. Feraligatr let out a final, strangled roar before it collapsed, unconscious.
The poachers' boss growled at the sight of Feraligatr lying fainted on the ground.
But there was no time to celebrate.
"Quickly, Tobias. Help us with the Malamar!"
Galvantula turned, firing a Sticky Web and Electro Ball toward Malamar—
But Malamar was too powerful.
It let out a furious cry before unleashing a colossal Psybeam.
The energy swept across the battlefield, slamming into Krookodile, Venomoth, and Galvantula at once.
Krookodile, being immune to Psychic-type moves, was only lightly shaken—
But Galvantula was hit hard. It let out a weak cry before collapsing, knocked out. The fight against Feraligatr must have really exhausted it.
"Tobias!" Eva cried out, recalling it immediately.
Venomoth, battered and barely standing, struggled to keep airborne.
Then—
Something changed.
Eva turned, eyes widening.
Kadabra was shining with psychic energy.
"Simon, get ready," she hissed.
Simon, breathing heavily, nodded.
Then, Kadabra raised its spoon.
"Nein! Follow them!" poacher boss commanded.
"Lenny, Disable!" Eva called in desparation and the exhausted Venomoth tried to use one more move.
And in a blinding flash of light—
They vanished.