The forest thickened steadily as Aiden ventured further into Brambleshade, a sprawling, untamed woodland that stretched for miles between Valor Town and Thistira. The canopy here was denser than anything he'd ever seen—sunlight dripped in golden rivulets through tangled branches, casting shifting shadows over mossy rocks and roots as thick as his arm. The air was heavy with loam, wet bark, and the heady scent of wildflowers, a far cry from the neatly edged paths of Valor's outskirts. Civilization had vanished behind him.
Aiden's team moved with purpose but caution. Each day was marked by new challenges—some expected, others not.
Barely an hour past the deeper threshold, the forest greeted them with an ambush. Three Ariados dropped silently from the trees just after noon, purple carapaces glistening in the dappled light. Their glossy red eyes locked on Budew, who had wandered just a few feet from the trail.
"Zubat, Supersonic—circle them!" Aiden barked. Zubat darted in a zigzag pattern, releasing an eerie pulse of sonic energy. Two of the Ariados recoiled in confusion, but the third launched a String Shot, ensnaring Budew and pulling it closer.
"Ponyta, Flame Wheel—now!"
The young fire horse reared, flames erupting around its body before it shot forward in a fiery spiral. The Ariados shrieked, knocked aside as Budew rolled to safety.
Sneasel leapt from the underbrush. Quick Attack flashed like silver through the air, striking one Ariados before it could recover. The insect squealed, struggling.
"Feint Attack—finish it!"
Sneasel vanished into the shadows and reappeared behind the stunned Ariados. Its claws ripped across the abdomen in a crisscross slash. It twitched once, then went still.
The second Ariados launched a Poison Sting at Zubat. "Gust, now!" Aiden countered. Zubat flapped its wings hard, whipping a blast of air that deflected the needles and sent the Ariados spiraling into a tree.
Budew retaliated against the last one with Stun Spore, coating the area in golden dust. The insect froze and collapsed.
Victory—but at a cost. Budew trembled from the shock. Aiden knelt and applied berries and balm. He said nothing as he healed the small Pokémon's shallow cuts. Words weren't needed—not now.
Day 2 - Rain and Remnants
A heavy rainstorm descended without warning. For six hours, they were drenched, huddled beneath a jutting stone outcrop. Aiden used his poncho to shelter Ponyta, knowing the Fire-type was weakest in the cold.
Later that day, they stumbled upon an abandoned camp. Signs of a struggle—crushed foliage, shattered Pokéballs, long-dried blood. A single shredded backpack remained.
Sneasel stood guard while Aiden dug a shallow grave for what he assumed were the remains of a fallen Pokémon. He placed a Sitrus Berry inside before sealing it.
"Everyone deserves rest," he whispered.
Day 3 - Ursaring Encounter
The sound of breaking trees warned them first. A massive Ursaring emerged from the shadows, fur matted, eyes wild. It was territorial, and they'd stepped too close.
"Zubat—Supersonic! Disorient it!"
The shriek echoed. Ursaring flinched—but charged.
"Budew, Leech Seed!"
Seeds exploded from Budew's bud, anchoring into the beast's fur. Vines wrapped and drained.
"Ponyta, Stomp!"
The ground quaked as Ponyta surged forward. The blow struck hard. Ursaring staggered—then turned toward Budew.
"Sneasel—Crush Claw!"
Claws flashed. Blood splattered bark. Ursaring roared and swiped, grazing Sneasel. But the poison and seeds had taken hold. It collapsed moments later, panting heavily. Aiden gave it a Razz Berry, laying a hand on its fur.
"We didn't want to fight you," he said.
Day 4 - Illusions and Zoroark
They encountered a forest illusion—an abandoned cabin, crackling fire, food laid out. Budew walked forward and vanished.
"Zoroark," Aiden muttered.
He closed his eyes, listened. No breathing. Only the sound of soft rustling.
"Zubat—Gust, left!"
Zubat fired. A shape shimmered, then staggered. Zoroark's illusion dropped. Its eyes locked with Aiden's.
"Ponyta—Flame Wheel!"
The battle was fierce, the Illusion Pokémon fast and clever. But the team held strong. When it fled, it left behind a single feather. A token? A warning? Aiden didn't know.
Days 5–7 - Growth in Silence
They trained relentlessly. Aiden taught Budew how to harness Energy Ball, practiced Feint Attack combinations with Sneasel to learn throat chop, and honed Zubat's speed. Ponyta learned transitions between Agility and Flame Wheel, and learned High Horsepower after practicing Stomp these days.
Their bond deepened in those quiet, grueling days—through shared meals, late-night watches, and whispered strategies.
The morning of the eighth day began quietly. Mist curled between trees, the world hushed. Then came the cry—a desperate yelp, high-pitched, echoing.
Aiden ran.
He found it in a ravine, half-hidden by roots. A young Riolu, barely standing, cornered by a man dressed in forest camo and matte black gear. Two Pokémon flanked him—an Absol and a Krookodile, both sleek, scarred, and cruel-eyed.
The man sneered as Aiden skidded to a halt. "Walk away, kid. This one's not your business."
Aiden's voice was low. "You're a poacher."
The man tossed a badge-like tag into the dirt. "Intermediate Grade. Which means I'm licensed to break you in half if you interfere."
Aiden's hand clenched into a fist. "That Riolu's a baby."
"So? They fetch more that way."
"Zubat—Gust!"
The poacher didn't hesitate. "Absol, Night Slash. Krookodile, Crunch the bat."
It was chaos. Zubat swooped, slicing air at Krookodile's eye. Absol vanished in a blur—Night Slash nearly took Sneasel by surprise.
"Ponyta, Flame Charge!"
The fire erupted. Ponyta and Absol clashed, flames and shadows colliding. Krookodile bit Zubat mid-flight. Blood sprayed. Zubat dropped.
"Budew—Stun Spore!"
Golden mist poured out. Absol hissed. Sneasel slashed with Metal Claw, ripping across Krookodile's scales.
The poacher threw another Pokéball. Pangoro appeared.
Aiden's heart pounded. He was outnumbered. Zubat was down. Budew was wilting.
"Retreat? No. If I run, he finds others. I have to end this."
"Sneasel—Agility, then Throat Chop on Pangoro!"
Sneasel vanished in a blur and struck from below. Pangoro staggered.
"Ponyta, High Horsepower!"
Krookodile took the full hit and collapsed. Absol lunged—Feint Attack intercepted, slicing its side open.
The poacher roared and charged Aiden with a blade.
Aiden dodged, grabbed a rock, and struck. Once. Twice. Three times.
The man collapsed. He reached for a Pokéball.
Aiden drove the rock down again.
And again.
Until he didn't move.
He stared. Blood soaked moss. Budew whimpered. Ponyta pressed close. Sneasel stood guard.
Aiden burned the body that night.
He didn't cry.
Night fell heavy on Brambleshade. Aiden found a shallow cave nestled behind a curtain of vines near a creek, just wide enough for his team to rest and recover. He'd carried Zubat in his arms, bandaged its wing, and laid it beside Budew, who had drained nearly all her energy in that brutal fight. Ponyta nuzzled against him, its mane low and flickering with fatigue.
Sneasel sat by the entrance, sharp eyes sweeping the woods, but even it was weary. Blood stained its claws, caked under the edges. The battle had changed something again.
And then there was Riolu.
The little Fighting-type hadn't spoken. It simply sat near the fire, staring at the ashes. Aiden offered it a Sitrus Berry—it took it without looking at him. Later, when Aiden unrolled his sleeping pad and set it against the cave wall, Riolu walked over and curled up beside him without a word.
It had decided.
In the morning, it handed him a Pokéball.
Aiden held it in both hands, uncertain. "You sure?"
Riolu nodded.
He pressed the button. The ball clicked.
"Welcome to the team."
After settling the team for rest, Aiden sat by the fire, flipping through his old journal—the one Veylen gave him—and scrawled the updated team statuses by hand, comparing notes from memory.
Sneasel
Stage: Apprentice (Refined, strong, and capable of executing tactics under pressure)
Talent Color: Purple
Move Expertise:
Quick Attack — Advanced → Expert (Sneasel now executes the move instinctively, faster than thought)
Feint Attack — Advanced → Expert (Trick angles, false shadows—Sneasel strikes from impossibility)
Icy Wind — Intermediate → Advanced (Can blanket large areas, slowing entire groups effectively)
Leer — Intermediate (Sharper, more intimidating)
Crush Claw — Intermediate → Advanced (More finesse now, hits with clean precision)
Metal Claw — Intermediate (More reliable, user damage reduced through control)
Throat Chop — Beginner (A recent addition—deadly when used in silence, Sneasel is still learning it)
Budew
Stage: Youth → Apprentice (Now displaying strategic planning and clever move synergy)
Talent Color: Blue
Move Expertise:
Absorb — Intermediate (Still solid, less used now with stronger moves available)
Growth — Intermediate → Advanced (Timed perfectly, boosting multiple stats predictably)
Stun Spore — Intermediate → Advanced (Dense cloud with wider radius, nearly undodgeable)
Mega Drain — Intermediate → Advanced (Fast, high-efficiency draining. Can sustain Budew through prolonged battles)
Energy Ball — Beginner (Newly acquired; still unstable but promising)
Zubat
Stage: Youth (Steady growth, gaining better control mid-flight)
Talent Color: Purple
Move Expertise:
Leech Life — Intermediate → Advanced (Precise targeting, effective hit-and-fade tactics)
Supersonic — Intermediate → Advanced (More consistent confusion, even affecting dual-types)
Astonish — Intermediate (Still reliable, used sparingly now)
Gust — Intermediate → Advanced (Used to displace enemies and redirect attacks mid-air)
Bite — Intermediate (Standard fallback)
Air Cutter — Beginner (Recently added; used during the poacher fight to create cutting shockwaves)
Ponyta
Stage: Child → Youth (Movement is sharper, fire attacks more coordinated)
Talent Color: Blue
Move Expertise:
Ember — Beginner (Used rarely now, more as a distraction)
Quick Attack — Beginner (Used to reposition between techniques)
Tackle — Beginner (Fallback option)
Agility — Intermediate → Advanced (Allows seamless repositioning, especially with Flame Wheel)
Flame Wheel — Intermediate → Advanced (Control over fire arc, can spin through enemies now)
High Horsepower — Beginner (Newly learned, explosive earthshaking power, not fully stable)
Riolu
Stage: Child
Talent Color: Purple (Exceptional growth potential in aura sensitivity and martial combat)
Move Expertise:
Quick Attack — Intermediate (Smooth, clean bursts of speed)
Growl — Intermediate (Used to distract and disorient foes, especially in group fights)
Force Palm — Intermediate (Precise chi burst; solid damage with chance to paralyze)
Metal Claw — Beginner (Recently introduced, still clumsy but strong)
Blaze Kick (Egg Move) — Beginner (Unstable, but the fire burns fierce when it lands)
Aiden looked over the team, eyes falling on the now-dozing Riolu, curled between Zubat and Budew.
"We're stronger than we were a week ago," he murmured. "But the forest isn't done with us yet."
The fire cracked. Outside, the night whispered.
They weren't out of Brambleshade yet.