To say things got out of control would be an understatement. When the show ended, the explosion of the crowd was so intense it felt like an earthquake of voices. Screams echoed endlessly—some called out their names, others shouted nonsense. But many of them joined in a relentless, almost hypnotic chant:
— Chaos! Chaos! Chaos!
Eddie, still trying to catch his breath, couldn't help but wonder:
— Why are they shouting that? — he muttered, pulling Alyssa by the arm. — What does "chaos" have to do with us?
Alyssa only laughed, still buzzing with the energy of the stage. Sweat ran down her face, her eyes swollen from crying just minutes earlier.
— Eddie, they loved the show! They're feeling the energy! — she said, trying to break free from his grip so she could wave to the fans.
The problem was that this "energy" had become dangerous. The barricades shook violently as people shoved against each other, desperate to get closer to the stage. Security guards rushed back and forth, forming a human wall. The festival was prepared for this sort of situation, but nothing could replace the raw reality: a living mass trying to swallow whoever stood on stage.
— That's not energy, Alyssa, that's people trying to tear us apart! — Eddie snapped, pulling her harder.
Luckily, the production team reacted quickly. A side door was thrown open, and one of the guards motioned them through. They were practically shoved outside, into a narrow wooden hallway that led backstage.
To Eddie's despair, Alyssa tried more than once to throw herself back into the crowd, insisting she had to "interact with the audience."
— It's part of being a rock star, Eddie! — she protested, laughing, as if it were as natural as breathing.
Eddie, meanwhile, couldn't help but wonder where the girl who had been crying only minutes ago had gone.
— A rock star? — he panted, his heart racing. — I just wanted to play my songs, not be hunted down like a criminal!
The deafening roar of the crowd echoed behind them. Eddie only began to calm down once he slipped into the black car waiting for them: Lady Katherine's limousine.
But the calm didn't last long.
Lady Katherine sat with flawless posture, hands resting neatly on her lap, her gaze sharp and unforgiving. Her silence was worse than any scolding. Eddie's stomach twisted, and even Alyssa, who was usually fearless, began to squirm in her seat.
The silence pressed down on them, broken only by the engine's hum. Seconds felt like eternities, until Alyssa, her voice trembling, finally turned to her grandmother:
— Did you see?
Lady Katherine didn't answer right away. Her eyes were lost in the window, as if gazing through not just the glass, but time and space itself. At last, she turned back to Alyssa and offered a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
— Yes, I saw. And all I can say is that I'm truly glad I didn't stop you from performing today.
Simple words, but they carried enormous weight. Alyssa bit her lip to hide her smile, shrinking into her seat, while Eddie couldn't conceal his own joy.
That was when the limousine door burst open.
— ALYYY! — Anne rushed in, practically throwing herself onto her cousin. She hugged her so tightly it was almost suffocating, speaking without pause: — You were amazing! That was insane! I'm so proud of you!
The reaction caught everyone off guard. Anne, usually elegant and refined, was now bouncing and shouting like a child. Even her clothes were different: ripped jeans, a short brown jacket over a simple white shirt. After all, it was a music festival.
Lady Katherine raised an eyebrow, ready to scold the girls, but then only sighed and let the scene unfold.
Alyssa turned bright red, struggling to break free from her cousin's bear hug.
— Anne, stop! Everyone's looking! — she hissed, drowning in her cousin's enthusiasm.
Eddie watched the scene with a nostalgic smile. The bond between the two reminded him of his own siblings. How he wished they were there, sharing this moment with him.
Morning sunlight bathed the vast festival grounds. Colorful stalls sold food, souvenirs, and themed trinkets. The smell of grilled skewers mixed with the sweet aroma of cotton candy. Music floated from every corner, but the main attraction was the brand-new stadium, built especially for the Pokémon tournament.
It was a circular arena, with improvised wooden and iron stands rising like fortress walls. Flags bearing the festival's emblem flapped in the wind, and the roar of the crowd could already be heard, even before the battles began.
Eddie and Alyssa made their way through the masses, wearing hoodies and masks to avoid being recognized. There were still two days left of the festival, but this one was special: the Pokémon tournament, divided into three categories—beginner, intermediate, and professional. With Eddie's limited experience as a trainer, he could only enter the beginner category.
Houndour trotted eagerly ahead, its tail wagging as if it could feel the competitive energy in the air.
In the registration area, several trainers stood out.A spiky-haired boy proudly showed off his Machop, making the Pokémon flex its muscles to impress passersby. A girl with long green hair caressed her Roselia, which exhaled a sweet perfume. There was also a serious-looking guy in a blue coat, with a Corviknight perched behind him, drawing awe from onlookers.
And then, there was her.
A Black teenager, short black hair streaked with blue, her gaze sharp and confident. She wore simple sportswear, but her presence was commanding. At her side walked a Drednaw, its shell gleaming in the sunlight.
Eddie felt a strange chill. She was beautiful, yes, but it was more than that—there was something oddly familiar about her. He couldn't explain it, but it felt like he had seen her face somewhere before.
As they approached the arena, Eddie and Alyssa overheard two boys chatting excitedly.
— Dude, last night's show was insane! — one said, eyes shining. — That kid with the guitar… unreal! I'm buying a guitar after this festival, no doubt!— I know! But the girl? She played like she was possessed! And that last song, when everyone sang together… I almost lost my mind! — the other added. — They didn't say the band's name, but I heard people calling them "Chaos."
Eddie froze mid-step.
— Again with that… — he muttered under his breath, so only Alyssa could hear. — Why "Chaos"?
The boys kept going:
— I think it's because of the girl's shirt. It had big letters on it: Feel the Chaos.
Alyssa nearly jumped with joy.
— See, Eddie? We already have a name! The crowd chose it for us! — she laughed, throwing her arms up like a queen. — Chaos is going to take over the damn world, Eddie boy!
Eddie buried his face in his hands. The name was awful, but it was already too late.
— I should've picked one earlier… Now it's done.
Alyssa kept rambling about the "future of the band," inventing stories about world tours and packed stadiums, while Eddie trudged behind, grumbling and cursing fate.
Further ahead, the two boys were still chatting, though now Eddie and Alyssa were too far to hear.
— Did you notice? People are already talking about forming a fan club for them. They're calling it "Team Chaos."— I'll be the first to join — the other laughed. — Those two are different. Mark my words: they're going to make history.— Yeah, but I'd be careful with that fan club crowd. — the first frowned. — They've got a… weird vibe.— Weird how?— I don't know… too intense. Especially those three.
The second boy looked confused, but chose not to press further. Soon, both of them disappeared into the crowd.