The air was damp and thick, carrying the faint scent of wet earth and minerals. Shadows flickered against the uneven stone walls as the glow from Charmander's flame cast an eerie orange hue over the rocky surroundings.
Frank clenched his jaw, walking with a slow but determined pace. He was desperate—desperate to find an exit, desperate to get Jake to safety, but mostly desperate not to let the little boy see how lost they really were. The tunnels twisted and turned in ways that made no sense, doubling back on themselves, leading into dead ends or into corridors so narrow that even Jake had to squeeze through.
They had been wandering for what felt like hours, yet every tunnel looked the same. Frank's mind raced.
"Come on, think! There's always a way out. Always."
But there were no markers, no signs, and no guiding path forward. The deep labyrinth of tunnels felt endless.
Jake, still clinging to his uncle's hand, was trying to be brave, but Frank could feel his small fingers trembling.
"Uncle Frank?" Jake's voice was soft, barely more than a whisper.
Frank immediately forced a smile and looked down at the boy. "Yeah, kiddo?"
"Do you know where we're going?" Jake asked, eyes wide with uncertainty.
Frank hesitated. He didn't want to lie, but what could he say?
"No, buddy. I have no idea where we are or how to get out of here?"
That wasn't an option. Jake needed reassurance.
"Of course," Frank said smoothly, giving the boy's hand a reassuring squeeze. "We'll be out in no time."
Jake bit his lip. "Really?"
"Really," Frank nodded, forcing confidence into his voice. "We just gotta keep moving. You and me, we're a team, right?"
Jake gave a small smile and nodded. "Yeah… a team."
The small Charmander, still nestled in Jake's arms, chirped softly, its tail flame flickering slightly. The little fire lizard had barely made a sound since they escaped from the poachers, clinging to Jake like he was its only anchor in the world. His flame threw shadows on the ground where Eva's Decidueye Maya was currently hiding.
Frank reached out and ruffled Jake's hair. "Good. Just stick close, okay?"
As they moved forward, there was a strange screech-like sound heard from the distance. Frank reached for a Pokéball and released his Gigalith. The massive, newly evolved Pokémon rumbled as it materialized, its crystalline formations glowing faintly in the dim light.
"Alright, Dwayne," Frank murmured, patting one of the large rocky formations on Gigalith's side. "Keep an eye out. If anything tries to jump us, use Wide Guard."
The Gigalith let out a deep, vibrating but a little exhausted sound, acknowledging the order as it stomped beside them.
Then suddenly—
A low, distant noise echoed through the tunnels.
Frank froze, quickly motioning for Jake to stay quiet.
The sound was faint but unnatural, a mixture of shifting rock and something… else.
Jake tightened his grip on Charmander, eyes darting nervously.
"Uncle Frank?" he whispered.
Frank held up a hand. "Shhh, buddy. Stay close."
Gigalith's eyes glowed faintly, reacting to the tension. It started charging energy into its massive body, preparing Wide Guard, just in case.
And then—
A sudden explosion of white light illuminated the tunnel, blinding them for a brief moment.
Frank instinctively stepped in front of Jake, shielding him with his arm.
As the light faded, five characters stood before them.
A man, a woman, and three Pokémon—Krookodile, Venomoth, and Kadabra.
For a moment, everything was still.
Then—
"FRANK!" the woman cried in surprise.
Jake ripped away from his uncle's side and barreled toward the blonde.
"Mommy!" he cried, throwing himself into Eva's arms.
Eva let out a sob, dropping to her knees as she wrapped her arms tightly around her son.
"Oh, Jakey! Jakey, my baby!" Eva held him close, pressing kisses into his hair, her entire body shaking. "I was so scared—so scared, sweetheart!"
Jake buried his face into her shoulder, holding onto her like he'd never let go.
Frank, still standing frozen, let out a breath of pure relief before turning his gaze to the man standing beside Eva.
"Simon? What are you doing here?"
Simon Bauer, the local gym leader, gave Frank a nod, relieved but focused. "Long story. But I'm glad to see you're in one piece."
Frank exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand down his face. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you guys."
"We were looking for you," Simon said, glancing around the cavern. "Are you two alright?"
Frank nodded. "We're fine. Just… lost as hell."
"You and me both," Simon muttered, before glancing at the massive Gigalith standing protectively near Frank. "Looks like you got a power boost down here."
Frank gave a small smirk, patting Gigalith's side.
"Yeah… you could say that."
The Pokémon rumbled in agreement.
Eva, still clutching Jake, pulled back slightly and cupped his face. "Are you hurt? Did they do anything to you?"
Jake shook his head quickly. "No, I'm okay, I promise! Uncle Frank kept me safe!"
Eva turned to her brother, her eyes full of gratitude.
"Thank you, Frankie," she whispered.
Frank gave her a tired grin. "Hey, you know me, sis. Always looking out for my fam."
As the reunion settled, Simon crossed his arms.
"Alright," he said, his voice serious. "Now that we've found you, we need a plan."
Frank's smirk faded as reality crashed back onto his shoulders.
They weren't out yet.
And worse?
The poachers were still somewhere around.
Frank sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Yeah," he muttered. "We need a way out of here. Fast."
The tension in the cave didn't ease much despite the emotional reunion. They were still underground, still trapped in an unknown maze, and still within reach of the poachers.
Frank ran a hand through his damp hair, exhaling sharply. "Alright, we need a plan. We can't just sit here waiting for those bastards to find us."
Simon nodded, his arms crossed. "Agreed. But we're at a disadvantage right now. We don't know how many Pokémon that guy still has, and most of ours are down."
Frank glanced at his nephew, who was still clinging to Eva, Charmander nestled between them. He didn't want to discuss their dire situation too bluntly in front of the kid, but at the same time, there was no point sugarcoating it.
"Let's go over what we have left," Frank suggested, rubbing his temples. "Girafarig and Pyroar are knocked out, and Gigalith is exhausted after fighting that Feraligatr."
At that, Eva's eyes flickered, and she let out a sharp exhale. "That monster…"
Frank frowned. "Wait—you guys ran into it?"
Eva nodded, her body still buzzing with adrenaline. "It was one of the strongest Pokémon I've seen. But—" she inhaled, stealing a glance at Simon, "Tobias—my Galvantula—managed to knock it out."
Frank's eyes widened slightly. "That's… impressive. That thing gave us hell when we were escaping."
Simon cut in, his tone grim. "Yeah, but your Galvantula isn't standing anymore. That fight with Malamar did him in. My Excadrill's down too. Right now, I've only got Krookodile left."
Frank let out a low curse. "So between the three of us, we're down to… what? Krookodile, Venomoth, Gigalith, and…"
Eva looked down at her son and the faint shadow flickering beneath him.
"And Maya," she murmured.
At the mention of her name, Decidueye emerged from Jake's shadow, rising like a specter. The archer owl stretched her wings silently, shaking off the dark mist that clung to her form.
Jake giggled softly and reached up, patting her feathers as if greeting an old friend. "Maya helped us escaped, Mom!"
The Decidueye's piercing eyes softened slightly as she glanced down at the boy. Then, she turned to Eva, tilting her head.
"Maya…" Eva whispered, stepping forward and reaching out to touch the feathers around the Pokémon's neck. "I'm so glad you're okay."
The Decidueye let out a soft hoot, dipping her head in greeting. She had stayed hidden in Jake's shadow, waiting for the right moment to emerge—watching over them even when they couldn't see her.
Simon, watching the exchange, let out a low hum. "That's at least some good news. Decidueye's looking strong. But still… we're in no shape for a full-on battle."
Eva sighed. "Lenny—my Venomoth—is still standing... well... flying. But Tobias and Britney are down. And if that Malamar is still active… I don't like our odds."
"Neither do I," Frank muttered. He hated the idea of running, but Simon was right—they didn't know how many more Pokémon that bastard had. For all they knew, there could be even stronger things than a Malamar.
They needed reinforcements.
"The safest bet is to retreat," Simon said. "I need to go back to my gym—I've got stronger Pokémon there."
Frank frowned. "No offense, but just your gym team might not be enough. That guy's not just a regular poacher, he's a damn monster. He enjoys the pain he causes—he won't stop just because we come back with stronger Pokémon."
"So what do you suggest?" Simon asked, crossing his arms.
Eva spoke up before Frank could. "We should head to our place, to Battle Ranch. My father-in-law is there. So are other strong trainers. We need skilled trainers and stronger Pokémon."
Frank nodded in agreement with his sister. "Exactly. The ranch has good fighters, and they know how to handle scumbags like this."
Simon grimaced. "We don't have time to waste going to multiple places. If we split up—"
"We're not splitting up," Eva snapped. "This is not some stupid movie, they could pick us up one by one!"
"Alright, alright, fine!" Simon ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "Still, first we need to get out of these caves. And we have to move now, before that bastard finds us again."
There was a moment of silence, the decision finally settled.
Then Jake, who had been quietly listening, hesitated before speaking.
"Um… where even are we?"
The adults all turned to Simon.
"You're the caveman, ehm... cave-expert," Frank said. "Any idea where we are?"
Simon exhaled sharply, glancing around at the dark, twisting tunnels. "I have… an assumption. This doesn't feel like the main underground system beneath Iglaustadt. It's too chaotic, too uncharted. My best guess? We're in some forgotten tunnel network, something outside the usual maps."
Frank groaned. "Fantastic. So we're lost and trapped in some ancient death maze."
Eva ignored Frank's sarcasm, instead turning to her son and kneeling in front of him.
"Jakey, listen to me," she said softly. "We're going to use Teleport to get out of here."
Jake perked up. "Kadabra can do that? So what are we waiting for?"
Eva nodded. "Yes, it can do it, but it takes time. Teleport isn't instant, especially when it has to carry multiple people."
Frank, a trainer of Psychic Pokémon himself, chimed in. "Your mom's right, kid. The more people a Pokémon has to Teleport, the longer it takes to recharge. Kadabra needs time before it can do it again."
Jake glanced at the shimmering psychic energy still surrounding Kadabra. "So… how long?"
Eva sighed. "Not too long. But long enough that we need to be careful."
Simon glanced over his shoulder, feeling a prickle of unease.
"We don't have much time," he muttered. "If that poachers find us first, it won't matter if Teleport is ready or not."
Frank's jaw clenched. "Then let's hope we're ready before he is."
They continued walking through the tunnels, but the tension hadn't eased, and with every second they wasted, the risk of being found grew. Yet, Frank, Eva, and Simon couldn't agree on their next move.
"I'm telling you, the gym is better," Simon didn't give in, but insisted again on going to his place, his voice edged with frustration. He pointed toward the rocky ceiling. "If we really are under Iglaustadt, then the gym could be right above us or not far from here. I have powerful Pokémon there—Pokémon that could actually stand up to that poacher's team."
Frank shook his head. "The problem isn't just having strong Pokémon. The poacher won't fight fair. We don't know what traps or other tricks he has. We need numbers and trainers who have fought criminals before."
Eva crossed her arms, her expression steely. "That's right, bro. And that's why Battle Ranch makes more sense. My husband was fighting criminals. And there are more people who were all over the world staying in the Ranch as well. And they have Pokémon just as strong—if not stronger—than yours, Simon."
Simon exhaled sharply, barely restraining his irritation. "I'm not saying the ranch is a bad idea—I'm saying we don't have time to get there first. If we stop at the gym, I can grab my veteran Pokémon like Tyranitar at 75th level, Rhyperior at 72nd level, or Dugtrio at 80th level. They could crush that Malamar for sure."
Frank hesitated. Those were pretty high levelled Pokémon.
But Eva wasn't convinced. "And what if the poacher has more Pokémon we don't know about? You mentioned only ground types, we have more different Pokémon types at the ranch, what's your answer to that?"
"You know we have other teams with more types. I wouldn't return just by myself."
„Okay, but the trainers at the ranch usually use various types, so they can be more practical," Frank added.
Simon ran a hand through his hair, his patience thinning. "We don't even know if the poachers are still chasing us. For all we know, they could be looking in the wrong part of the cave system right now."
Frank groaned, rubbing his temples. "Or they could be right behind us. We don't know. That's the problem. We need to decide—"
"Mom, something's wrong with Charmander," Jake's small voice cut through their argument.
None of the adults heard him. They were too wrapped up in their discussion.
Jake turned toward his small fire lizard, feeling a tight knot of unease forming in his stomach. Charmander's flame—his life force—was flickering strangely. The fire wavered, shifting in eerie patterns, almost as if it was being distorted by something unseen.
"Charmander? Buddy?" Jake whispered, his breath catching.
The little Pokémon stood stiffly, his yellow scales unnaturally still, his tail flame glowing in an odd purplish hue. His normally curious and warm eyes had turned empty and glassy, like he wasn't truly there.
Then he moved.
Charmander's mouth suddenly snapped open, and without warning, he fired a burst of Embers—straight at Lenny the Venomoth.
Jake's heart lurched.
"No!" he cried. "Lenny, watch out!"
The tired Venomoth barely managed to dodge, its wings flapping erratically. More glowing embers shot toward her, but this time, Lenny reacted. With a quick flick of its antennae, the Venomoth's eyes shimmered with psychic energy. The fiery embers froze mid-air, caught by Confusion, before flickering out.
Jake stumbled backward, his small fingers clutching at his mother's sleeve.
"Mom! Something's wrong with Charmander!"
His voice was borderline hysterical now, but none of the adults had noticed earlier.
Now, however, they had.
Simon, Eva, and Frank all turned sharply, their discussion coming to an abrupt halt.
Eva's eyes widened in shock as she took in the blank expression on the little fire lizard's face.
Frank cursed under his breath, while Simon tensed, his eyes scanning the darkness behind them.
The air thickened around them, and a strange, unnatural silence filled the tunnels. The faint crackling of Charmander's flame was the only sound that remained, but even that felt... warped.
Then, the walls changed.
Simon was the first to notice, his head jerking up as a chill ran down his spine. The rough stone around them rippled, as if the cave had suddenly become liquid. At first, it seemed like a trick of the flickering firelight. But then, the eyes appeared.
Dozens. Hundreds.
Deep red and violet irises, slit pupils, blinking in eerie synchronization. They stared from every surface—the walls, the ceiling, even the floor. The sheer number of them was suffocating, each gaze burning into their minds.
Eva took a sharp breath, stepping back as the eyes twisted and morphed, forming horrific shapes. They became gaping mouths, filled with jagged, unnatural teeth, their whispers slithering into her ears.
"You're weak."
"You failed."
"You let them suffer."
Simon clenched his jaw, his breaths quickening. He had spent years underground—he had never been afraid of caves. But now, the walls were breathing and exhaling a disgusting stench. The shadows stretched toward them, pulsating in an unnatural rhythm.
Then came the tentacles.
At first, they were just part of the illusion, writhing from the darkness, slithering along the walls, curling toward them like hungry serpents. But as Frank tried to step away, something cold and real wrapped around his ankle.
His breath hitched.
His hands scrambled at the ground, but the grip tightened. Then, in one sickening motion, it yanked him backward.
A sharp, burning pain shot through his leg, and he exhaled in agony. But the others—they didn't even react.
Eva was frozen in place, her pupils dilated, her hands trembling. Her mind was elsewhere.
She was standing in a different cave—or at least, that's what it looked like.
In front of her, she saw herself.
Or rather, a twisted version of herself. Her skin was pale, hair was wild, her face smeared with blood, her eyes hollow and lifeless. And in her arms—
"Jakey!" she gasped.
Her son lay limp, his body cold and pale, his small hands curled as if he had tried to fight back.
Then, the other Eva—the monster she was looking at—smiled.
"You let this happen," it whispered, its throaty voice slithering into her skull.
Eva screamed.
Simon, on the other hand, saw nothing—at first.
Then, suddenly, he was back in his gym.
Or at least, what remained of it.
The walls were crumbling, flames licking at the edges of the battlefield. He saw the bodies of his Pokémon strewn across the floor, motionless. He took a step forward, his breath shaking.
"Krookodile?"
His Pokémon turned to him, but its eyes were dead. Streams of blood were streaming from holes where warmth had once been. It opened its mouth, but instead of a roar—
"You abandoned us."
Simon staggered back, his mind screaming at him that it wasn't real—it couldn't be real. But the smoke choked his lungs, the heat burned his skin.
It felt real.
And then there was Jake.
While the adults were ensnared by their worst nightmares, the six-year-old stood still, watching.
He should have been afraid.
The eyes on the walls blinked, their irises glowing as they bore into him. The whispering voices tried to slither into his mind, tried to drown him in fear, in despair—
But Jake didn't look away.
He felt something behind those eyes. Something alive.
There was a consciousness behind the illusions, lurking in the shadows, watching him from those countless eyes.
And for the first time, Malamar felt something watching back.
Jake's mind, young and untouched by true evil, was like a light in the abyss. His thoughts were pure, innocent, untainted by hatred or cruelty.
And as those innocent thoughts seeped toward Malamar, something shifted.
Malamar's presence wavered.
For the first time, it felt something alien—something it couldn't control. So it panicked and focused its attack on the adults.
The darkness pulsed.
Eva was still in the twisted cave, staring at the broken body of her son in the arms of her monstrous reflection. The image was too real, too vivid—she could smell the blood in the air, feel the cold weight of dread clawing at her chest.
Her reflection—her worst self—cocked its head.
"You thought you could protect him?" it sneered, its voice sharp like the edge of a knife.
Eva staggered back, her breath caught in her throat.
Then the cave shifted again.
She was no longer standing in the underground tunnels. Instead, she was outside, under a red sky that shouldn't exist. The stars above were twisted, swirling into an endless spiral of violet and crimson, burning like dying embers.
And there, in the center of it all, her son stood—alone.
His small hands reached toward her, but the moment she tried to step forward, her feet sank.
The ground was quicksand.
No—it was flesh.
Pale, pulsing, cold flesh.
She screamed as hands—thousands of them—reached from the ground and clawed at her legs, pulling her down.
Jake was getting further and further away.
She tried to scream his name, but when she opened her mouth, black ink poured out instead of sound.
Simon, meanwhile, was drowning.
The wreckage of his gym surrounded him, but now he was beneath it, trapped under the weight of stone and failure.
He struggled to move, but his limbs were heavy, like lead. The air was thick, suffocating.
And then, through the smoke, he saw them.
His Pokémon—all of them.
Lying there, motionless.
And standing over them, their killer.
Helmut.
The poacher boss smirked at him, his boot resting on the motionless form of Krookodile.
"Is this all the mighty Gym Leader of Iglaustadt can do?"
Simon gritted his teeth, trying to push himself up, but his arms buckled.
Helmut's voice grew distorted, echoing in the air like a vulture's laugh.
Then the walls melted away, and Simon found himself trapped in a glass case.
It was tight, barely enough space to breathe.
He pounded on the walls, but no sound escaped.
Outside, figures gathered, watching him like a caged animal.
Helmut.
The league officials.
The challengers who had once admired him.
"He's weak," they whispered.
"He couldn't even save himself."
Simon screamed, but the glass tightened around him, squeezing the air from his lungs.
Frank couldn't breathe.
Malamar's tentacle had coiled tighter around his torso, crushing him like a vice. But the pain in his body was nothing compared to the horrors in his mind.
He saw his family, standing at the edge of a vast, endless abyss from which dark miasma was rising like a smoke.
Eva.
Jake.
Rachel.
Monika.
They looked at him with empty eyes, their faces expressionless.
Then one by one, they stepped forward.
And turned into nothingness.
Frank tried to move, to run toward them, but the ground beneath him fractured like glass, and suddenly, he was falling too.
Meanwhile Jake was not aware of what was happening to the adults and was still watching the eyes on the walls with curiosity. And then, he asked.
His tone was soft and curious.
"Hello. Do you wanna be my friend?"
The illusions wavered.
Malamar hesitated. It did not expected that a child could so easily ignore its powerful nightmares. And moreover, the little person could somehow send his own thoughts to its mind.
Malamar stopped its Hypnosis, not sure what kind of foe it encountered.
The suffocating images cast upon Eva, Frank and Simon peeled away, like a veil being lifted.
The warped landscapes faded. The whispers died out.
The grotesque shapes melted into the air, revealing the real cave once again. The walls were solid rock—not flesh, not eyes and not tentacles. The only light came from their Pokémon's glowing attacks and the flickering flame of Charmander's tail.
Eva, Frank, and Simon gasped for air, as if they had been drowning.
Frank let out a pained groan, his body still trapped in Malamar's grip. The psychic energy weakened, and for a brief second, his vision blurred—but then Simon's voice cut through the daze.
"Krookodile!"
In the same time, Frank wheezed out.
„Dwayne!"
Both the crocodilian and the rocky Pokémon slammed their massive limbs into the ground, and both summoned a powerful Rock Slide.
A deep rumble echoed through the tunnel. Then—
CRASH.
Huge boulders appeared around the ceiling, tumbling down rapidly toward Malamar.
But the overturned squid didn't move.
It just stood there.
Its massive, hypnotic and surprised eyes stared at Jake, its expression blank. The Pokémon saw into the young boy's mind and it was flipping through his memories of living together with Pokémon. It was so surprised and delighted to see a place, where Pokémon were not treated as a slaves, but as friends. It thoughts briefly turned towards its trainer and its mind was full of regret.
And then the boulders hit it.
Jake gasped, staggering back as the connection between them was suddenly cut off.
Eva caught her little boy before he could fall, hugging him close.
"I've got you, honey," she whispered, brushing his hair back with trembling fingers. Then, her breath hitched.
She turned sharply to the others.
"We need to get away from that Malamar!"
But before anyone could react, her Venomoth let out a low, strange hum and fluttered toward her.
Eva frowned.
"Lenny, what's going on?" she asked, confused.
Jake, slowly, reached out and touched Lenny's fuzzy body.
And then, in his mind, a voice—
A soft, whispering presence.
"Its flame went out."
The words weren't spoken aloud, but they resonated inside his head. It was the voice of Eva's Venomoth.
Jake's eyes widened in alarm.
He immediately turned toward Charmander—terrified that something happened to its tail-flame. But—no.
The little Fire-type was still clinging to Frank, eyes wide with fear, but its fire was still burning.
Jake blinked, confused.
"Lenny? Whose flame went out?" he murmured.
The Venomoth simply hovered, her wings glittering faintly in the dim cave light and its eyes focused on the pile of rocks atop fallen Malamar.
Eva gulped as she guessed from Jake's question that the powerful conjoined attack of Krookodile and Gigalith was able to kill the Malamar. But she did not want to explain it to Jake right now.
As noone replied to Jake's question, the cave remained eerily silent. The only sound was their uneven breathing, still shaken from the illusions Malamar had forced upon them. Simon rubbed his temples, eyes darting around as if making sure no new horrors lurked in the shadows.
"That was…" he started but trailed off, unable to find the words.
"…Not real," Eva said, though her voice wavered. She still felt the phantom grip of unseen horrors, the whispers in her ears. She shook her head. "But it felt so real."
"I saw…" Frank swallowed. "Never mind. It doesn't matter." He clenched his fists, forcing himself to push the memories away. "This is reality. We're here. Together."
Jake, still nestled in his mother's arms, looked around with wide eyes. "But it wasn't all fake." His voice was small but certain. "Some of it was real."
Frank looked down at him. "What do you mean, kiddo?"
Jake hesitated. "I… I felt that tentacly Pokémon behind those eyes."
Before anyone could dwell on the thought, a pulse of psychic energy rippled through the cavern. Everyone turned as Kadabra stepped forward, lifting its spoon. Its eyes glowed with an ethereal shimmer, and it let out a low hum.
"It's ready," Eva said with relief.
Frank exhaled, then frowned. "Wait. We never actually decided where to go."
A beat of silence.
"Damn it," Simon muttered.
"Battle Ranch?" Eva suggested.
"It's too far," Simon pointed out. "And if we use up Kadabra's energy getting there, we'll have to wait even longer to come back. But..."
Frank raised an eyebrow seeing sudden change in Simon's expression. "So what do you suggest?"
Simon snapped his fingers. "The gym. I know for a fact there are at least three or four Psychic-types there. They can help teleport you the rest of the way to the ranch."
Frank considered it. "And how long before we meet back at the gym?"
"Ten to fifteen minutes, tops," Simon estimated. "That should give Kadabra time to recharge."
Eva turned to Kadabra. "Will that be enough for you? I guess we will bring more psychic types, so they help you with the next Teleport back here."
Kadabra gave a slow, deliberate nod.
"Alright," Frank agreed. "Let's move."
Kadabra raised its spoon, psychic energy crackling around it. The air shimmered, and in an instant, the oppressive darkness of the cave was gone.
With a crackling burst of energy, the group materialized inside Iglaustadt Gym's museum, a high-ceilinged hall dedicated to the town's mining history. Dim industrial lights cast long shadows over glass cases displaying old pickaxes, helmets, rusted mining carts and statues of Pokémon—a tribute to the silver veins that once ran deep beneath the earth. The air smelled faintly of polished stone and aged iron.
Eva, Frank, and Simon barely had time to take in their surroundings before they instinctively pulled out their phones, their faces lighting up as signal bars flickered to life.
"Finally, the surface..." Frank muttered, immediately scrolling through his contacts.
Simon was already dialing. The phone barely rang once before someone picked up.
"Hey, I need a lift. You free? Meet me in museum hall, presto!"
"Coming," came a voice from the other end.
A second later, a vortex of swirling energy materialized in the room. Out of it floated a bizarre, alien-like creature—a Pokémon with a black, disc-shaped body covered in glowing, ancient symbols. Its eight eerie, detached arms hovered around it, spinning ever so slightly, giving the illusion of a constantly shifting form. Its two beady eyes glowed a piercing red, unblinking as it surveyed the room in silence. The Pokémon emitted a faint hum, an almost mechanical drone, like an ancient machine that had awakened from deep slumber.
Behind the Pokémon stepped a teenage girl in a yellow hoodie and messy dark hair pulled into a lopsided ponytail. She looked barely older than sixteen. "Sorry for the wait. I'm Abby and this is Claydol."
Simon wasted no time. "Abby, we need to get these guys to the Battle Ranch and then back. Can you handle it?"
Abby hesitated but nodded. "Yeah, Claydol's good to go."
Simon added. "Ten minutes max, and I'll meet you all back here."
Frank gave a sharp nod. "Let's move."
"Claydol, you're up. To the Battle Ranch!"
And in a flash of energy, they were gone.
A heartbeat later, they stood inside the bright, bustling lobby of the Battle Ranch's Pokémon Center. The scent of antiseptic filled the air, and the quiet hum of healing machines was nearly drowned out by the occasional murmur of trainers and nurses.
Eva acted first, hurrying to the front desk with her and Frank's Pokéballs in hand. To her disappointment, Rachel—Frank's wife—was nowhere in sight. Instead, another nurse, a woman with sleek pink hair tied in a bun and in a traditional "Nurse Joy" dress, greeted her with a friendly nod.
"Hi Eva, so good to see you all back."
"Hey, Anette, we are in a hurry. Can you please, take care of these," Eva pleaded as she handed over hers and her brother's knocked out Pokémon.
The nurse nodded. "We'll do our best."
"Also, are you able to get me mine and Frank's Pokéballs?"
"I see what I can do!" the nurse nodded and starting clicking on the keyboard.
Eva was stepping on the spot for a minute, before the nurse addressed her.
"Hey, Eva. Here you go. I have your Swanna, Dustox and Cubchoo here. And here's Frank's Quaquaval, Mightyena and Ferroseed."
"Thank you," Eva exhaled with relief.
Meanwhile, Frank stood off to the side, already making calls. His voice was urgent, barking fast sentences, his usual laid-back demeanor nowhere to be found. "Get ready, now. Bring your best team. I spoke with Joe and he will pick you up." One by one, people started appearing in the lobby thanks to Teleport by Joe and his experienced Oranguru.
First was David, Eva's husband, tall and muscular guy with his messy black hair and sharp green eyes, still fastening his Pokéball belt as he walked in. Eva immediately hugged him and they kissed each other.
More figures materialized in:
Petr, Eva and Frank's father with his gandalf-like beard, his expression half-relieved by seeing his kids and grandkid alive and half-tense from what was about to happen.
Angie, a young redhaired foreman specializing in Poison-types, her confident smirk unwavering.
Lenka, an older referee from the ranch, her delicate features betraying nothing of the raw power of her Fairy-types.
Radek, a serious-faced Steel-type expert, arms crossed, his gaze analytical.
Marek, a local ex-gym trainer, his Ground-types battle-hardened from years of rigorous training.
And of course, Joe, David's father and head of the Battle Ranch.
The room was filled with tension, but no one wavered.
Frank stepped forward, his voice sharp and commanding.
"Okay, guys."
"And girls..." Angie interrupted.
"And girls," Frank continued. "Thank you all for coming. Now, listen up. We found poachers. Or rather, they found us. But it doesn't matter. It's actually a little worse. The group we encountered, they're connected to something much worse—the Sleepers."
A murmur rippled through the group. Everyone here had heard or even met those terrorists. Their last attack came during the royal visit and the guards of prince Charles took care of them. And now, they were back.
"They have Pokémon captured underground," Frank continued. "We don't know what they're doing to them, but we're not letting them get away with it. We're going back now."
"Agreed," Frank's father, Petr said firmly.
"No arguments here," Angie added, cracking her knuckles, "let's go kick some ass!"
Only Joe hesitated. "It could be a trap," he pointed out. "They might just want to lure us away from the Ranch."
Frank opened his mouth, but for once, he didn't have a quick answer.
Joe, however, had already made up his mind. He reached for his belt and unclipped three Pokéballs. He handed them to his son, David.
"Here you go, Dave. It's Togekiss, Arbok and Ludicolo. I'll stay here," Joe said simply. "If this is a distraction, someone has to guard the Ranch."
Eva exhaled, nodding. "Jake, you stay with here with your grandpa. Maya, stay with him."
Jake, still holding onto his Charmander, looked up at his mother with wide eyes. At first, he wanted to ask which grandfather she meant, but after seeing her serious expression, he simply nodded. He walked over to his grandfather Joe, gripping his large, calloused hand. Jake's shadow slightly shivered, but the hidden Decidueye did not emerge.
"I'll be good," Jake said softly, "And I can help!"
"Char... Charmander! Char! Char!" the little fire lizard added.
Joe squeezed his hand. "I know you will."
Frank turned to Abby, the trainer from the town. "No time to lose. We're ready to go back!"
But Abby gulped at the sight of the large group, her hands clenched nervously. "I—I don't know if Claydol can handle that many people in one go."
Before anyone could react, Radek, the steel-type trainer stepped forward. "Then let's give you some help."
And he tossed a Pokéball forward.
With a blinding flash, a four-legged, silver-plated Pokémon landed heavily on the ground, its diamond-like red eyes gleaming with sharp intelligence. Its thick, armored legs scratched the floor, exerting a silent, overwhelming presence. Blue psychic energy crackled around its body, flickering like electricity.
Metagross.
The Pokémon tilted its head ever so slightly, then looked with curiosity at its trainer.
"Help Claydol with Teleport. The whole group needs to get back."
Abby let out a breath as she saw the powerful psychic creature and her nervosity was eased. "Alright… Claydol, sync with Metagross."
With their minds now linked, the two Pokémon pulsed with synchronized psychic energy.
Frank took one last look at the group. "Let's go."
And with a final burst of light, they vanished.
The group of trainers from the Battle Ranch materialized in a swirl of psychic energy, their bodies briefly shimmering with residual light from the Teleport before settling into the dimly lit museum. The air smelled of polished wood and metal, the faint scent of old mining equipment still lingering in the room.
The place was a historical museum, a tribute to Iglaustadt's silver mining past, lined with glass cases containing rusted pickaxes, antique helmets, and dull, raw silver ore on display. A reconstructed mine shaft entrance, complete with wooden support beams and an old rail track, stood in the corner, giving the whole space a cavernous feel. The irony was not lost on Frank—they had fought their way out of one underground labyrinth only to find themselves in a memorial to another.
But there was no time for sightseeing.
Simon, the gymleader, stepped forward, already dialing a number on his phone, his expression tense. The device barely had time to ring once before a glow of psychic energy flared a few feet away.
A levitating, clay-like Pokémon with a perfectly symmetrical body and eerie, unblinking eyes materialized before them. Its two stubby arms floated independently, and its multiple eyes glowed faintly with an ancient, unreadable intelligence. The air around it felt heavier, as if reality itself bent slightly around its presence.
Claydol.
Standing beside it was its trainer, a freckled teenage girl with short brown hair tied in a hasty ponytail. She looked younger than most of the other trainers present but carried herself with a confidence that suggested she knew exactly what she was doing.
"Abby," Simon said, breathing out in relief. "Glad you made it."
The girl gave a quick nod. "Claydol and I were already locked in. Everything went smooth."
"Thank you. Now stay here and when the police arrives, help them, please."
The girl nodded in acknowledgement and recalled her tired Claydol. The supporting Metagross was also called back to its Pokéball.
Simon turned to the others. "Alright, Frank, I have my Dugtrio, Tyranitar and Rhyperior with me. Also I've pulled together six trainers from the gym—three from our Red Team, who specialize in Grass and Bug types, and three from the Blue Team, who focus on Flying and Ice types."
Frank nodded, pleased with the efficiency. "And the police?"
Simon hesitated. "They're tied up with something else right now. But I've got another guy on the line, waiting for further instructions. If things escalate, they'll be able to coordinate with law enforcement. They say that time for police backup is around thirty minutes—forty tops."
Frank exhaled through his nose. It wasn't ideal, but at least they weren't completely alone. Much better than when he and his nephew were teleported into the unknown tunnels in the first place.
"We'll have to make it work," he said. "Let's move."
"You ready?"
Frank exhaled sharply. "As we'll ever be. Let's do this before the poachers realize we've jumped up here for the back-up."
Simon smirked. "Glad we agree."
"Kadabra, it's your turn," Frank turned towards the psychic Pokémon standing beside them.
The psychic fox staggered slightly, gripping its silver spoon tightly. Its thin body trembled, and the star-shaped purple gem on its forehead pulsed weakly, as if struggling to stabilize its energy.
Frank immediately caught the signs. "Kadabra, wait, we will help you with that."
The psychic-type's ears flicked, acknowledging the words, but its tail twitched in clear irritation as they were no Pokémon ready to help with Teleportation in sight.
Lenka, the fairy-type expert, stepped forward and called out her own Pokémon.
A large, round, balloon-like Pokémon with soft, pink fur appeared. It had large blue eyes that shimmered under the museum lights, long floppy ears, and an almost unnerving sense of awareness despite its adorable appearance. Its body wobbled slightly, as if filled with captive energy, and it let out a low, musical hum that instantly made the air feel lighter.
Wigglytuff.
From the gym trainers, a tall young man from the Red Team released another Pokémon.
A butterfly-like creature emerged, its massive wings spreading wide as it flitted into the air. Its large compound eyes reflected the dim lights of the museum, making them seem to glow faintly, and the blue and black markings on its delicate wings shimmered with an otherworldly energy.
Butterfree.
The moment both Pokémon appeared, Kadabra's gem pulsed a little brighter.
Lenka smiled. "Alright, Wigglytuff—sync with Kadabra."
The round fairy Pokémon closed its eyes, and a gentle pink aura expanded outward like a slow, rolling wave. It wrapped around Kadabra, causing the psychic-type's body to stabilize slightly.
"We need to move fast," Simon murmured for himself. "This is taking too much time."
The Butterfree in the air gave a sudden trill, and its wings started glowing, pulsing with soft blue light. It began beating them in slow, hypnotic waves, sending ripples of psychic energy cascading outward.
Kadabra gritted its teeth, eyes glowing brighter as it reached out, linking with both Pokémon. The air grew thick, as if reality itself was bending around them.
For a brief second, everyone felt a strange pull, like the sensation of being drawn into a powerful current. The light intensified, the very walls of the museum seeming to shimmer as the three Pokémon wove their psychic forces into one unified energy.
"That's it…" Frank murmured. Then, in his usual joking tone, he muttered, "Hope this doesn't turn us all inside out."
"Bro..." Eva rolled her eyes.
Then—
A blinding flash.
The world reassembled itself in an instant, the cold, stale air of the underground caves replacing the warmth of the museum.