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In the darkness of his Poké Ball, Kael slept peacefully, his black-and-pink tail flicking idly beneath him.
Faint magnetic ripples pulsed outward with each slow movement.
A fine, soft current wrapped around his body like a blanket. Tiny sparks flashed in time with his heartbeat, pulsing gently in the quiet.
The once-brilliant Electric Gem in his arms had dulled to lifeless gray, its energy completely spent.
Without warning, the Poké Ball space shook.
Kael stirred, yawning. The static covering his wool crackled sharply in little "pop-pop" bursts. A casual flick of his tail drew the gentle arcs back into his body like serpents slithering home.
"Mmm…"
He exhaled in contentment. Not only did his electric reserves feel fuller than ever, but his control over them was noticeably sharper.
'Am I… getting stronger too fast?' He teased himself before brushing the thought aside.
Strength meant progress. Progress meant points. There was no such thing as too fast in his situation.
A beam of red light expanded from the top of his Poké Ball, pulling him out.
Click!
He materialized in a familiar kind of room classic Dark Star décor. Sparse, square, and colorless, the floor and walls were tiled in a matte, dark material that reflected not even the faintest glimmer.
A faint chill seeped up through his hooves.
Behind him stood a compact healing machine similar to the ones in Pokémon Centers, but stripped down to a single slot for Poké Balls.
At its center was a strange emblem: a black sphere encircled by a swirling, violet nebula.
Kael's gaze lingered on it too long. The faint purple light within seemed to pull at him, and for a moment, his mind drifted into a haze until a faint dizziness snapped him back.
He looked away quickly.
That must be Dark Star's insignia… and whatever they used to make that image isn't just for show.
The entire moment had lasted only seconds, but it left his guard raised.
A cough drew his attention forward.
A slender young woman stood with arms crossed, watching him.
Her long black hair fell loosely over her shoulders, her features sharp and striking. Heavy dark eye makeup masked the deep circles under her eyes, and her thin frame looked one bad day away from collapse.
She wore a plain black hoodie and slim black pants though on her, they hung almost loose, as if borrowed.
She didn't radiate warmth, exactly, but neither did she feel threatening.
"Cough… This is the Dark Star Battle Tower," she said in a voice soft but tired. "You're the gatekeeper Pokémon for this floor."
She waved a hand dismissively. "When challengers come through, you fight them. After each battle, I'll recall you, heal you with that machine, and send you out again. Don't worry about injuries just do your best."
Another cough. "Losing's fine too. Most trainers are climbing upward anyway, and from your file, you're… not exactly stopping a lot of them."
Without waiting to see if he understood, she turned toward a chair in the corner then paused and glanced back.
"Oh… you've been in a Poké Ball for a while. You must be hungry."
Kael tilted his head. Odd shift in conversation… but she wasn't wrong. The Electric Gem had recharged his power, but that didn't satisfy his physical hunger.
She rummaged in her pouch, muttering to herself, until she pulled out a small silver canister that chimed faintly when shaken.
"These are Electric-type Pokéblocks I picked up on my last mission. Don't have any Electric Pokémon myself, so… guess they're yours."
Popping the lid, she tipped the container until two crystal-like yellow cubes slid into her pale, slender palm.
"High-quality stuff. Go on."
She crouched slightly, holding the treats out to him. There was a faint, almost imperceptible softness in her eyes.
Kael stepped forward. He knew if she'd wanted to harm him, she wouldn't need to use food to do it. And in the quiet between heartbeats, he sensed something an unguarded flicker of genuine fondness for Pokémon buried beneath the weariness and shadow.
Even here, in Dark Star, there were people like this.
A faint floral scent rose from her hand as he licked the first cube into his mouth. The sweet, tangy electricity fizzed across his tongue like popping candy, sending pleasant tingles down his spine.
Delicious.
He dug in, chewing happily.
The woman's lashes lowered slightly, a small smile curving her lips. The harshness in her expression melted for just a moment, replaced by a quiet warmth that rippled like sunlight across still water.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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