It was the next morning as the group gathered near the city gates, packs secured and Pokémon rested. Violet City was quiet at this hour, the gym's tower catching the early sunlight like nothing dramatic had happened there yesterday.
The car was already waiting behind them.
That was the problem.
The driver stepped out and gave an apologetic shrug. "Road ends here. From Route 32 onward, it's walking only. Union Cave isn't exactly… car-friendly."
Ethan sighed. "Figures."
Route 32, Union Cave, Route 33. A straight line on a map, a nightmare in practice.
So yeah.
It was gonna be a trip.
Falkner was already gone—literally. He'd taken off at sunrise, riding the wind with his Pokémon like this was just another commute.
Ethan watched the empty sky for a moment.
'We're rich,' he thought. 'Why didn't Dad just give me something with Fly?'
Then again, knowing his luck, he'd get dropped halfway.
Erika glanced at Kitsu, who was tightening the straps on her bag. "So… you're really not challenging the Gym?"
Kitsu didn't even look up. "Nope. Later."
Whitney blinked. "Later as in… later today?"
Kitsu finally looked up, calm and stubborn. "Later as in Azalea. I'll challenge Bugsy's Gym first."
Bugsy nearly choked. "You're skipping a Flying Gym to fight my master first?"
She shrugged. "Yep."
Bugsy stared at her. "That's backwards."
She met his gaze. "So is you not fighting Franklin."
That hit.
Bugsy crossed his arms, scowling. "Hey. I'm specializing. Bug types need time."
Ethan snorted. "That's the nicest way I've ever heard 'I chickened out.'"
"Say that again," Bugsy said, already reaching for his Poké Ball.
Whitney laughed, stepping between them. "Save it for the cave. We'll need the energy."
Sabrina adjusted her gloves, eyes already distant. "Union Cave won't be empty. A lot of things move underground."
Lyra swallowed. "You mean Zubat."
"Among other things," Sabrina replied.
Ethan tightened his grip on his bag. Noibat shifted on his shoulder, wings twitching, alert.
He looked down the road leading out of Violet City.
"Alright," he said. "Let's move before I regret not having Fly even more."
And just like that, the group stepped forward—
leaving Violet City behind,
and heading straight into the dark.
The group made their way into Union Cave.
Everyone walked—except Bugsy, who sat astride his bike, engine idling, ready to head back to his town at a moment's notice.
Lyra glanced down at her Pokégear, scrolling through encounter data.
"So, ninety percent of the time," she said, "we're either running into Onix or Zubat. Ten percent chance it's Aron or Bronzor."
Sabrina didn't even look up.
"And a top-tier one percent," she added calmly, "for why trainers camp here at all—Gible or Bagon."
A brief silence followed.
"…So basically," Lyra sighed, "rocks, bats, or disappointment."
Right on cue, the cave echoed with a familiar flutter-flutter-screech.
Everyone froze.
Bugsy slowly turned his head. "Don't say it."
A pair of red eyes blinked in the darkness.
Lyra deadpanned, "Statistically speaking, this was inevitable."
A Zubat dropped from the ceiling.
Sabrina adjusted her gloves. "At least it isn't an Onix."
The ground rumbled ominously.
"…I retract my statement."
Ethan stepped into the cave and immediately released Mudkip.
"See an Onix," he said flatly, "blast it."
His eyes flared purple as Dragon Force surged to life.
'If I'm going through this cave, he thought, I'm leaving with a Gible, a Bagon… or at the very least a strong Zubat.'
In front of him, Sabrina had already moved.
Her crimson eyes glowed as psychic energy spiraled upward around her body. She raised one hand—and like iron to a magnet, ten Bronzor were ripped from the shadows and dragged into the air.
With a casual flick of her wrist, nine were shoved aside.
She studied the remaining one for half a second.
Then she tossed a Dusk Ball.
Click.
"This one," Sabrina said simply.
She glanced at the others. "Scatter."
Eight Bronzor fled instantly.
One remained—hovering uncertainly—before Sabrina guided it gently through the air and floated it toward Lyra, wordlessly telling her to catch the second-best one.
Lyra blinked. "…Oh. Okay then."
Ethan just stared.
'That's one of my fiancés, he thought', watching Sabrina like a man witnessing art.
'…Yeah. I'm even more in love.'
Few minutes later, The cave shook.
A deep, grinding roar echoed through Union Cave as the stone walls themselves seemed to move.
Then—
CRRRRRAAASH!
An Onix burst from the ground, stone segments coiling as dust and rubble rained down. Its eyes locked onto Mudkip instantly.
"Onix!" it roared.
Mudkip didn't flinch.
Ethan smiled. "There we go."
"Mudkip—Water Gun!"
A compressed blast of water slammed into Onix's head, forcing it back a step—but instead of retreating, the rock serpent charged, slamming its tail into the cave floor and sending shockwaves through the ground.
Mudkip was launched backward.
"Dodge left—now Mud-Slap!"
Mudkip twisted mid-air, landed hard, and hurled a spray of thick mud straight into Onix's eyes.
The Onix roared, blind—but another answered it.
Then another.
The ground split again.
One. Two. Three more Onix erupted from the cave walls, drawn by the battle.
Bugsy skidded to a halt on his bike.
"…Why am I even here?"
Lyra stared. "Ethan, you might wanna—"
"Good," Ethan interrupted, eyes still glowing purple. "More data."
The Onix attacked together.
One lunged from the front. Another slammed its tail from above. The third coiled to crush Mudkip entirely.
"Mudkip—Water Gun!"
Water exploded outward, flooding the cavern floor and slamming into the Onix pack like a tidal wave. Stone cracked. One Onix was thrown into the wall. Another was knocked clean off its coils.
But Mudkip was breathing hard now.
The largest Onix roared—and Iron Tail came down.
Mudkip crossed its arms.
The impact was brutal.
The cave went silent.
Dust settled.
Then—
Mudkip pushed himself up.
His body began to glow.
Ethan's Dragon Force surged, syncing instinctively.
"That's it," Ethan whispered. "Break through."
Mudkip cried out as blue light wrapped around him, his body growing, reshaping—fins sharpening, muscles tightening.
The glow exploded outward.
Where Mudkip stood now was a Marshtomp.
Marshtomp slammed its fists together and let out a roar that echoed through the cave.
The Onix froze.
"Marshtomp—Water Gun Ultra!"
Marshtomp launched forward, riding a spiraling column of water straight into the largest Onix's head. The impact was catastrophic—stone shattered, and the massive Pokémon crashed unconscious into the cavern wall.
The remaining Onix hesitated.
Then fled.
Water drained from the cave floor.
Silence returned.
Bugsy stared at Marshtomp.
Then at Ethan.
Then at the unconscious Onix.
"…I train bugs," he said quietly. "I really, really train bugs."
Sabrina adjusted her gloves. "You should reconsider."
Lyra nodded. "Yeah. For your own safety."
Ethan looked at Marshtomp and grinned.
"Worth the trip."
Ethan opned his Pokedex and scanned Marstomp.
[Name: Marshtomp
Type: Water/Ground
Gender: Male
Shiny: X
Ability: Torrent
Hidden Ability (Locked): Damp
Nature: Adamant
Known Moves:
– Bite
– Growl
– Water Gun
– Rock Slide (TM)
New Move Ready to Learn
Mud Shot]
Ethan closed the Pokédex, the faint hum fading as the screen went dark.
He looked down at Marshtomp, who stood taller now, chest rising and falling as he adjusted to his new body. Mud still clung to his arms, but his eyes were sharp—focused.
"Marshtomp," Ethan said calmly, "move change. Replace Growl with Mud Shot."
The Pokédex chimed once.
Move updated.
Marshtomp clenched his fists. The ground beneath him responded—mud bubbling, shifting, obeying his will. He scooped a chunk of wet earth, compressed it instinctively, and hurled it forward.
SPLAT—CRACK.
The mud shot slammed into the cavern wall and hardened on impact, leaving a cratered smear of clay and stone.
Marshtomp blinked.
Then grinned.
Bugsy stared at the wall.
"…That's not a debuff move."
Lyra tilted her head. "It slows and hits hard. Ground-type control already?"
Sabrina glanced at Ethan, faint approval in her eyes. "Adamant nature. Replacing Growl was the correct decision."
Ethan nodded, watching Marshtomp test the move again—this time firing a rapid burst of mud shots that staggered loose stones and made the cave floor tremble.
"Growl was fine for early fights," Ethan said quietly, more to himself than anyone else. "But from here on out… we fight to win."
Marshtomp stomped once, mud rippling outward in response.
Somewhere deeper in Union Cave, something noticed.
The cave fell just a little quieter.
The cave answered Marshtomp's stomp.
Not with sound.
With movement.
A sudden screech tore through the cavern, sharp and panicked—wings beating wildly as three shadows burst from a side tunnel.
"Zubat—!" Lyra started.
Too late.
They came in fast, diving low, using the narrow ceiling to mask their approach.
Ethan's eyes snapped up. "Marshtomp—Mud Shot, spread fire!"
Marshtomp slammed both fists into the ground.
Mud erupted forward in a wide arc, splattering across the stone floor and the tunnel walls. One Zubat tried to twist away—
—and hit the mud mid-dive.
Its wings stuck for half a second.
That was enough.
The Zubat crashed hard, skidding across the cave floor, screeching as it struggled to move—its flight speed gone, wings heavy and sluggish.
The other two flinched, movements suddenly cautious.
Bugsy blinked.
"…It grounded a flying type."
Sabrina's eyes glowed faintly. "Speed reduction confirmed. Environmental control."
Ethan didn't smile. He didn't celebrate.
He simply pointed. "Finish it."
Marshtomp didn't hesitate.
A follow-up Mud Shot slammed into the grounded Zubat, knocking it unconscious.
The other two fled immediately, disappearing into the darkness.
The cave went quiet again.
Kitsu had watched the whole thing.
Her fists were clenched.
She looked down at her Pokéballs.
"…You didn't rush," she said.
Ethan glanced back. "Why would I?"
"You could've ordered a big attack. Water Gun. Rock Slide. Something flashy."
Ethan shook his head. "Flashy wastes energy. Control wins fights."
He met her eyes—not judgmental, not cold. Just honest.
"I don't fight to look strong," he continued. "I fight to make sure my Pokémon don't have to take unnecessary hits."
That landed harder than any attack.
Kitsu swallowed.
Then—
A metallic screech echoed through the tunnel.
Sabrina's head snapped toward the sound. "Steel-type. Fast."
The shadows shifted.
Something small but sharp burst from behind a rock formation—red eyes glowing, claws scraping stone as it lunged straight at Kitsu.
"Aron!" Bugsy shouted. "Wild—aggressive!"
It didn't go for Ethan.
It went for her.
Kitsu's hesitation vanished.
"Ember—Torres—both of you, out!"
Two Pokéballs burst open in tandem.
Ember hit the ground first, flames flaring instinctively.
Torres followed with a heavy thud, claws digging in as he let out a deep, feral roar.
The Aron slammed forward—
"Torres, block!"
Torres stepped in front without hesitation. Metal claws raked across his chest—
—and sparked uselessly.
Torres didn't budge.
"Ember, Flame Wheel—cut it off!"
Ember spun, flames roaring as she circled wide, cutting off the Aron's retreat and forcing it back toward the cave wall.
The Aron screeched, panicking now, movements fast but sloppy.
Ethan nodded once. "Now you're thinking."
Kitsu took a breath. Steady this time.
"Torres—Bite. Don't overcommit."
Torres lunged, clamped down, then immediately released and stepped back—textbook restraint.
The Aron staggered.
And then—
Torres' body tensed.
Light erupted around him, golden and fierce.
Bugsy's jaw dropped.
"…Is he evolving? Now?!"
Torres roared as his form grew, muscles tightening, frame expanding—his silhouette sharpening into something stronger, more defined.
The light faded.
Standing there now was a new predator, eyes blazing with confidence.
Kitsu stared.
"…Torres?"
He snorted, smoke puffing from his nostrils, and stomped once—stone cracking beneath his foot.
Ethan smirked. "Stress-trigger evolution. You handled it right."
The Aron, exhausted and cornered, tried to crawl away.
Kitsu didn't hesitate this time.
She pulled a Pokéball.
"Stay down… and I'll take care of you."
The ball flew.
One shake.
Two.
Click.
Caught.
Kitsu exhaled shakily, staring at the Pokéball in her hand.
"…I almost waited too long again," she admitted quietly.
Ethan shook his head. "No. You acted when it mattered. That's the difference."
Bugsy leaned against the cave wall, staring at the scene.
"…Why am I even here," he muttered.
"I train bugs. I wanted a quiet life."
No one responded.
Deeper in the cave, something moved.
A low, guttural sound echoed faintly through the tunnels—heavy steps, claws scraping stone with deliberate rhythm.
Sabrina stiffened.
"That wasn't an Aron," she said.
Ethan's gaze sharpened, Dragon Force stirring faintly in his chest.
"…Too heavy for a Zubat," Lyra whispered.
From the darkness ahead, two faint shapes appeared carved into the rock wall—
Old claw marks.
Jagged.
Too clean.
Bugsy swallowed.
"…Those look like—"
Ethan finished the thought, eyes locked forward.
"—something that digs."
Somewhere ahead in Union Cave…
A rare predator waited.
Kitsu walked over and crouched beside Torres, placing a hand against her warm, newly evolved flank.
"Good job, girl."
Torres turned her head, eyes bright, and let out a happy, rumbling sound.
"Grooootle."
Kitsu laughed softly, relief washing over her. "At least your personality didn't change."
Torres snorted, clearly pleased, and leaned just a little closer—nearly knocking Kitsu off balance.
"Hey—easy," Kitsu said, steadying herself, still smiling.
She then turned her attention to the Pokéball in her other hand and pulled out her Pokédex, scanning the newly caught Aron.
The screen flickered to life, stats scrolling by as the metallic Pokémon's image rotated slowly.
Kitsu hummed. "Alright… let's see."
She stared at the screen longer than necessary, thumb hovering over the naming prompt.
"…Small," she muttered.
"Angry."
"Metal."
"Attacked me first."
Her lips slowly curled into a grin.
She typed.
Name registered: Godzilla
Bugsy choked on air. "—EXCUSE ME?"
Lyra burst out laughing. "You named an Aron Godzilla?!"
Kitsu stood up, holding the Pokéball like it was sacred. "Yes. And one day it's going to earn that name."
Ethan snorted. "Bold claim for something that fits in a backpack."
Sabrina glanced at the Pokédex screen, then calmly added, "Statistically… it's not impossible."
Bugsy stared at her. "…That's not comforting."
Torres let out a proud growl, stomping the ground once as if approving the decision.
From deeper in the cave, stone shifted.
Something heavy moved again.
Ethan's smile faded as he looked ahead into the darkness.
"Alright," he said quietly. "Playtime's over."
Kitsu checked her Pokèdex.
[Pokédex Entry
Name: Grotle
Nickname: Torres
Type: Grass
Gender: Female
Shiny: X
Ability: Overgrown
Hidden Ability (Locked): Shell armour
Nature: Brave
Known Moves:
– Bite
– Withdraw
– Razor Leaf
– Mega Drain]
She then checked Godzilla and Ember, Dex Entry
Kitsu tapped the screen again, scrolling down as the Pokédex chimed softly.
First: Godzilla.
---
[Pokédex Entry]
Name: Aron
Nickname: Godzilla
Type: Steel / Rock
Gender: Male
Shiny: X
Ability: Sturdy
Hidden Ability (Locked): Heavy Metal
Nature: Adamant
Known Moves:
– Tackle
– Harden
– Metal Claw
– Rock Tomb
---
Kitsu stared at the entry for a moment, then nodded to herself.
"Yeah… that tracks."
The Pokédex helpfully added a note at the bottom:
Despite its small size, this Pokémon shows unusually aggressive territorial behavior.
Kitsu smirked. "You hear that? It's official."
From the Pokéball at her belt came a faint clang followed by an indignant metallic clink.
Bugsy pinched the bridge of his nose. "I am begging the universe to stop rewarding you."
Lyra leaned in. "Okay but… Godzilla actually fits."
Ethan shrugged. "Name a dragon before it becomes one. Works every time."
Sabrina, deadpan: "That philosophy has a 63% survival rate."
Bugsy stared at her. "WHY DO YOU KNOW THAT?"
Kitsu ignored them and tapped again, moving to her last Pokémon.
---
[Pokédex Entry]
Name: Flareon
Nickname: Embers
Type: Fire
Gender: Female
Shiny: X
Ability: Flash Fire
Hidden Ability (Locked): Guts
Nature: Calm
Known Moves:
– Flame wheel
– Quick Attack
– Bite
– Fire Fang
---
Kitsu's expression softened when Embers' hologram appeared—warm eyes, steady posture, tail flame flickering calmly instead of wildly.
"…You really did mellow out," Kitsu said quietly.
From beside her, Embers let out a low, content frrr and brushed her head against Kitsu's leg, radiating heat but never burning.
Whitney smiled. "She's basically a heated blanket with teeth."
Ethan glanced between Torres, Godzilla, and Embers—then toward the dark tunnel stretching deeper into Union Cave.
Three Pokémon.
One evolution mid-cave.
One steel menace named after a kaiju.
And somewhere ahead…
He felt it again.
A pressure.
A presence.
Dragon Force stirred faintly in his chest.
"…We're not alone," Ethan said.
From far deeper in the cave, stone scraped.
Something small—but sharp—shifted in the dark.
Bugsy sighed.
"…If this is another Onix, I'm quitting Pokémon and becoming a librarian."
The cave answered with a low, unfamiliar growl.
Not Onix.
Something faster.
Something that bit first.
To be continued
Hope people like this Ch and Give me power stones and enjoy