The cave was filled with a tense, almost suffocating atmosphere. The air was thick with the oppressive presence of Team Rocket, their Pokémon primed to strike, and Velkris stood his ground, shielding the terrified Clefairy behind him. His Pokémon, sensing the imminent danger, stood ready for battle.
Gible let out a guttural growl, lowering itself into an aggressive stance, its sharp teeth glinting in the dim cave light. The small yet fierce Dragon-type was itching for a fight. Right behind Gible, Nidoran (Male) mirrored its stance, eyes locked onto the Rocket grunts, determined to prove itself. Above them, Ralts floated slightly above the ground, a strong psychic aura emanating from its small form, lifting the surrounding boulders slightly into the air. The sight was intimidating, but the sheer number of enemy Pokémon made it clear that this would be an overwhelming battle.
The Rocket grunts had wasted no time in sending out their Pokémon—Zubat, Ekans, Raticate, and even a few Houndour, all ready to pounce. Velkris clenched his fists as the grunts moved in, their eyes filled with malice. The sound of claws scraping against the rocky cave floor, fangs snapping in the air, and the flickering glow of fire-type moves being prepared created a chaotic symphony of impending combat.
Then, just as the tension reached its peak, an orange blur flashed through the cave like a streak of lightning. A powerful gust of wind followed, blasting through the cavern, forcing Velkris to shield his eyes. When he looked up again, the Rocket grunts and their Pokémon were all sprawled across the rocky floor, groaning in pain and completely incapacitated.
Velkris' breath caught in his throat as he laid eyes on the intruder. It was a Dragonite—a truly terrifying one. Unlike the typical Dragonite, which carried a gentle and almost friendly demeanor, this one had an aura of pure dominance. Its fierce, piercing eyes locked onto Velkris and his team, sizing them up. The sheer power radiating from the dragon was palpable, and for a moment, Velkris felt as though he was being judged by some ancient force.
Gible, on the other hand, had a completely different reaction. The little dragon quivered with excitement at the overwhelming display of strength. Without hesitation, it let out a challenging roar, eager to test itself against such a formidable opponent. Dragonite, unimpressed, simply gave Gible a dismissive glance and turned away.
That was all it took to enrage Gible. The small dragon snarled and, without waiting for a command, fired a barrage of Scale Shot at Dragonite. The dragon-type move shot forth at high speed, each scale carrying sharp, concentrated energy. Dragonite effortlessly dodged each one, weaving between the attacks like a seasoned warrior avoiding mere pebbles.
But as Dragonite danced around the attacks, a sudden rock flew in from the side and struck its cheek with a loud crack. Dragonite's head snapped slightly from the impact, and for the first time, it narrowed its eyes in irritation. Velkris quickly realized what had happened—Gible had mixed Stone Edge into its barrage, a tactical strike that had actually landed on the dragon.
"Gible, stop!" Velkris ordered, but the small dragon was beyond listening. Its body trembled as a wild, erratic energy coursed through it. Outrage.
Velkris' eyes widened in realization. Gible wasn't just attacking wildly—it was in the process of learning one of the most dangerous Dragon-type moves, and in the heat of battle, it was losing control.
Dragonite, momentarily annoyed, chose to respond. With a sudden burst of speed, it used Extreme Speed to close the distance between them in a flash. At the last moment, however, it held back and instead swung its massive tail forward, an Aqua Tail crashing against Gible's small body, sending it hurtling back with tremendous force.
"Gible!" Velkris ran forward, watching as his partner struggled to rise. The attack had been super effective. Gible was panting, but its eyes burned with determination. The Outrage was fading for a moment, and Velkris could see something else in its gaze—something deeper than just stubbornness.
This wasn't just a fight to Gible. It was a personal challenge, a test to prove itself against a superior opponent.
Velkris swallowed hard. He had felt this before. That same drive, that raw need to grow stronger. Was this Ralts' telepathic projection of Gible's emotions? Or was it the pendant he wore, somehow allowing him to understand his Pokémon's deepest desires?
It didn't matter. What mattered was that Gible had chosen this battle, and now, Velkris wasn't just carrying his own dreams—he was carrying his Pokémon's dreams, too.
"You can do it, Gible!" Velkris shouted, his voice filled with raw emotion. "Get up!"
The cavern trembled as Gible let out a thunderous roar, the very air around it distorting with draconic energy. Its entire body was suddenly enveloped in a bright light. Evolution.
The light grew blinding, and Dragonite, sensing the shift, immediately stopped holding back. It launched forward with a full-power Dragon Rush, aiming to end the battle before Gible could fully evolve.
But as the collision neared, the ground itself seemed to tremble. The moment Dragonite's attack hit, the blinding light exploded outward, shaking the cavern. Dust and debris fell from above, and Ralts quickly used its psychic power to lift the rocks away from the Clefairy to keep them safe.
As the dust settled, Velkris' heart pounded in his chest.
Where Gible had once stood, now stood a Gabite. Taller, stronger, and radiating pure power. Gabite had stopped Dragonite's Dragon Rush with its bare claws—claws that shimmered with both metallic sheen and draconic energy.
"Metal Claw… and Dragon Claw… simultaneously?" Velkris muttered in awe.
Gabite growled, but its body was still injured from the previous battle. Despite its evolution, it was barely holding on. Yet, even in its weakened state, Gabite opened its mouth, forming the beginnings of a Draco Meteor.
Dragonite, recognizing the threat, prepared to dodge with Extreme Speed—but it wasn't needed.
Gabite's energy wavered, and before it could unleash the move, it collapsed onto the ground, fainted.
Dragonite, seeing this, finally relaxed. It had been prepared for a full-scale battle, but Gabite's sheer willpower had earned even the mighty dragon's respect.
Then, a sharp whistle echoed through the cave.
Dragonite's ears twitched. It turned its head toward the cave entrance, then slowly flew in that direction.
Velkris, still catching his breath, turned to see the source of the sound.
Clapping echoed through the cavern, followed by a deep yet youthful voice. "Fantastic. To put up such a fight against a fully evolved Dragon Pokémon, one trained by me, is an incredible feat."
A man stepped into the light, and Velkris' breath caught in his throat.
It was Lance. But… he was young. Far younger than Velkris had expected. He looked barely a few years older than himself.
"And you are…?" Velkris asked cautiously.
The red-haired man chuckled. "Oh, excuse me. I get excited when it comes to Dragons. I'm Lance, the new Dragon-type Elite of Kanto, and also a Senior Investigator of the Pokémon League."
Velkris' mind reeled. This wasn't the Lance he remembered from the games, the shows, or the manga. Something was different about this world, and meeting Lance only confirmed it.
As Velkris processed this revelation, Lance's sharp eyes scanned the scene. He looked over the defeated Team Rocket grunts, the fainted Pokémon, and the caged Clefairy.
"I can figure out some of what happened here," Lance said, his voice serious. "But I want to hear it from you. Tell me everything."
Velkris, still processing everything that had happened, took a deep breath. Instead of explaining everything right away, he turned to Lance and said, "I'd rather explain everything in detail once we reach the next city. There's too much to cover, and I want to make sure my Pokémon get proper medical attention first."
Lance studied Velkris for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Fair enough. We'll head to Cerulean City. I'll call in some League Officers to handle things here." He pulled out a communication device and quickly relayed orders, ensuring that reinforcements would arrive to detain the Team Rocket grunts and secure the Clefairy. As a final measure, he turned to his Dragonite. "Stay here and make sure no one escapes. If anyone tries anything, stop them."
Dragonite rumbled in response, its piercing eyes locking onto the defeated Rockets. They shrank under its gaze, knowing any escape attempt would be futile. With that settled, Lance motioned for Velkris to follow him, and together they made their way out of Mount Moon.
The journey to Cerulean City was relatively quiet, both of them lost in thought. Upon arrival, they immediately headed to the Pokémon Center, where Nurse Joy greeted them warmly. "Welcome to Cerulean City Pokémon Center. Oh! Lance? It's an honor to have you here."
Lance gave a polite nod while Velkris stepped forward. "Nurse Joy, could you please take care of my Pokémon? Gabite, Ralts, and Nidoran need rest and healing."
She smiled kindly. "Of course. I'll make sure they receive the best care possible." She carefully took the Poké Balls and placed them into the healing machine.
As Velkris turned back, he noticed that several trainers and visitors were stealing glances at Lance. Some were whispering excitedly, others visibly holding themselves back from approaching the Dragon Master. Though no one dared to disturb him, his intimidating presence alone seemed to command respect.
Sensing the growing attention, Lance placed a hand on Velkris' shoulder. "Let's move to a more private location. Too many eyes here."
Velkris nodded, and they quickly exited the Pokémon Center. As they walked through the streets of Cerulean, Velkris noticed they were heading towards the Cerulean Gym. Frowning slightly, he turned to Lance. "Why are we going to the Gym?"
Lance smirked. "We're not going to the Gym itself. We're heading to the Gym Leader's residence. Gordan, the head of the Waterflower family, lives there. He's also a retired Senior Investigator of the Pokémon League. I trust him, and I believe he'll be able to help us make sense of what's happening."
Velkris absorbed the information. He hadn't expected another major figure to get involved so soon. If Gordan was truly a retired League Investigator, then perhaps he would have insights that could shed light on the smuggling operations Velkris had encountered. With that thought in mind, he followed Lance towards the residence, ready to reveal everything he had uncovered so far.
As they arrived at the Waterflower residence, a modest but elegant home near the Cerulean Gym, Velkris took a moment to take in the surroundings. The house was decorated with aquatic motifs, reflecting the family's deep ties to Water-type Pokémon. As Lance knocked on the door, it was Misty's mother who answered—a graceful woman with soft blue hair, wearing a long dress with a wave-like pattern. Behind her stood Misty's three older sisters, each with distinct expressions of curiosity.
"Oh my, if it isn't Lance!" Misty's mother greeted with a warm smile. "And who is this young man?"
"This is Velkris," Lance introduced, placing a hand on Velkris' shoulder. "He's a rising trainer, and he has information regarding a serious situation."
The sisters eyed Velkris with amusement. One smirked, another giggled, and the last studied him with an appraising gaze.
"Oh, what a cute boy," one cooed.
"I wonder if he can handle a real challenge," the second mused.
"Well, I think he's adorable! Maybe we should keep him," the third teased.
Velkris sighed, already sensing that these three were trouble. Fortunately, Lance cleared his throat, his presence silencing their playful remarks.
"We're here to meet Gordon. Is he in?" Lance asked.
"He's in the study," Misty's mother said, stepping aside. "Come in."
They were led into a cozy yet refined study where a rugged, silver-haired man sat at a desk, reviewing documents. His piercing blue eyes shifted to them as they entered. Gordon Waterflower, former senior investigator of the Pokémon League, radiated an air of authority.
"Lance." Gordon nodded, then turned to Velkris. "And you must be the boy who got himself mixed up in something big."
Lance gestured toward Velkris. "I'll let him explain."
Velkris sat down, gathering his thoughts before recounting the events in full detail.
"It all started in Viridian Forest," he began. "My friends and I, along with Professor Light, encountered a group of people using a strange pheromone to enrage the Beedrill population. At first, we thought it was some reckless poachers trying to drive people away, but then we realized their real objective—smuggling Kakuna. The pheromone was keeping the Beedrill distracted while they captured as many Kakuna as they could in reinforced containers. They were well-prepared, and their methods were precise, like they had done this before."
Gordon folded his arms, frowning. "Smuggling operations in Viridian Forest aren't new, but this level of planning suggests an organization with serious resources."
Velkris nodded and continued, "After we intervened, the poachers scattered, but I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't an isolated incident. That suspicion was confirmed when I was on my way to Mt. Moon. I encountered a Primeape that was… different. Its behavior was erratic, like it was in pain or under the influence of something unnatural. When I managed to calm it down, I took it to the nearest Pokémon Center, and the Nurse Joy there ran tests. She confirmed that the Primeape had been experimented on—its body showed traces of a foreign chemical compound that shouldn't have been there. Someone was drugging Pokémon."
Lance and Gordon exchanged glances, their expressions growing more serious.
"Then there was Mt. Moon," Velkris said. "That's where things escalated. I came across Team Rocket operatives smuggling Clefairy. They were moving them in large numbers, but this wasn't just a simple theft. They were using high-tech restraints and specialized transport units designed to suppress Pokémon's abilities. When I confronted them, I noticed something strange—one of the Rocket grunts had a Pokémon that was acting abnormally aggressive, similar to that Primeape I encountered earlier. I fought them off and managed to free some of the Clefairy, but it confirmed my worst fear. This isn't just smuggling—someone is experimenting on Pokémon, possibly modifying them."
Gordon's fingers tapped against the desk as he processed the information. "I've dealt with smuggling rings before, but this is bigger than anything I've seen. There's been pressure from the League to put a stop to this once and for all, but if they've advanced to the point of experimenting on Pokémon, then this might not even be Team Rocket."
Lance nodded in agreement. "Team Rocket's known for theft, trafficking, and extortion, but they haven't done large-scale Pokémon experimentation since… well, since that incident."
Gordon's expression darkened. "Exactly." He turned to Velkris. "Are you absolutely certain it was Team Rocket at Mt. Moon?"
Velkris hesitated before shaking his head. "They wore the uniforms, and they acted like Rockets, but something felt off. They weren't behaving like typical Rocket grunts—there was a level of efficiency in how they operated. And that chemically altered Pokémon… it just doesn't match their usual tactics."
Gordon leaned back in his chair. "It's possible that another group is disguising themselves as Team Rocket to divert suspicion. Or worse, an offshoot of Rocket is operating with more advanced methods."
Lance exhaled sharply. "Regardless, smuggling rings have been growing across regions. I personally caught a few in Johto, trying to export Pokémon illegally. This could be a part of that network."
Gordon nodded. "I'll contact my old sources and see if I can dig up anything, but in the meantime, Lance, you should report this to the League and assemble a team."
Lance stood. "Agreed. We need to get ahead of this before it spreads further." He turned to Velkris. "And you—you need to be cautious. If you've interfered with their operations more than once, you might be a target now."
Velkris frowned but nodded. He had already suspected as much.
Sensing the heavy atmosphere, Gordon decided to shift the conversation. "But enough of that for now. Let's talk about something else. Velkris, have you already defeated your first Gym?"
Velkris nodded. "Yeah, I beat Brock in Pewter City."
Gordon smirked. "Then are you ready for your second Gym challenge?"
Lance chuckled. "Be careful, Gordon. Your daughter might be in for a tough match. Velkris' Gabite nearly took down my Dragonite."
Velkris waved his hands. "Lance is exaggerating! I just have strong partners, that's all."
Misty's sisters exchanged glances before speaking up.
"Oh my, such a strong trainer~"
"I wonder how he'd do against us."
"I'd love to test him myself!"
Their mother intervened with a sigh. "You girls need to focus on training your Pokémon before thinking about challenging trainers. Balance your performances and your battles."
Gordon let out a hearty laugh before standing up. "Well then, Velkris, I think I'll test you myself. If what Lance says is true, I want to see it firsthand. A battle against me should prove if you can handle yourself if you really are facing Team Rocket. And if you win, I'll even give you a special gift."
Velkris blinked before a slow grin spread across his face. "I'd be honored."
As Lance prepared to leave, he turned to Velkris with a smirk. "You know, I've taken a liking to you. There's something about you—your instincts, your drive. I have a feeling we'll be seeing each other more in the future."
Velkris nodded, appreciating the compliment but keeping his response modest. "I'd be honored, but I still have a long way to go."
Lance chuckled. "If your Gabite is anything like a certain Garchomp I know, it's going to be a monster on the battlefield once it fully evolves. When that happens, I want to face it properly—with my main team." His crimson eyes gleamed with excitement, his competitive spirit shining through. "Until then, keep training hard."
Before leaving, Lance handed Velkris a small card with his contact information. "If you uncover anything new about the smuggling ring, or if you need help, don't hesitate to reach out. I'll be keeping an eye on this case."
Velkris took the card and stored it safely. "I will. Thanks, Lance."
With that, Lance turned and left, his long cape swaying behind him as he exited the Waterflower residence.
_____________________________________
Velkris remained for a while longer, seated in the cozy living area with Mrs. Gordon and Misty's older sisters. He recounted how he had met Misty, recalling the events with Ash and the damage to her bike, which made Daisy giggle, Lily smirk, and Violet roll her eyes.
"So she's still losing her temper over things like that, huh?" Lily teased. "No elegance at all."
"And she's still scared of bugs?" Violet added, grinning. "Figures."
Velkris chuckled. "Actually, she did show some maturity in Viridian Forest. She still hates bugs, but she managed to overcome her fear—at least a little. She didn't run screaming at the first sight of a Caterpie."
"Wow, what progress," Daisy said in a playful, sarcastic tone. "Maybe in a few years, she won't freak out over a Weedle."
Mrs. Gordon shook her head with a smile. "Now, now, girls. Misty has her own strengths. It's just that she's still young."
"She's only a year younger than me," Velkris pointed out.
Daisy gave him a knowing look. "A year makes a big difference. Especially with maturity."
Velkris didn't argue. He knew Misty had moments of growth, but she still had a long way to go. After chatting a bit longer, he glanced outside and realized it was getting late. "I should probably head back to the Pokémon Center. I've got a Gym battle to prepare for tomorrow."
Mrs. Gordon nodded. "It was nice having you over, Velkris. Good luck in your battle."
"Thanks," he said, giving a respectful nod before leaving.
____________________________________
Upon arriving at the Pokémon Center, Velkris headed straight to the front desk, where Nurse Joy greeted him with a warm smile. "Ah, Velkris! Perfect timing. Your Pokémon are fully healed."
She handed him back his Poké Balls, and he carefully clipped them to his belt before heading to his assigned room. Once inside, he locked the door and released his team. Gabite, Ralts, and Nidoran appeared in flashes of light, stretching and shaking off the brief stiffness from their Poké Balls.
"How are you guys feeling?" Velkris asked.
Gabite gave a confident growl, Ralts twitched its ears, and Nidoran pawed at the ground. None of them showed any signs of fatigue.
"We've had battle after battle today," he mused. "If any of you need rest, I won't push you. The Gym battle is tomorrow, so we need to be at our best."
Gabite let out a low snarl, shaking its head as if to say, "I'm ready." Ralts and Nidoran also looked determined, showing no interest in resting.
Velkris smiled. "Alright. But if you feel tired at any point, let me know."
As he spoke, he remembered something—the Moon Stone investigation mission. Pulling up his system interface, he checked the status.
[Mission: Investigate the Moon Stone Mystery - Incomplete]
That was expected. He hadn't fully explored Mount Moon due to the unexpected smuggling operation. However, another notification caught his eye.
[Hidden Mission: Save Pokémon from Smuggling in Mount Moon - Completed]
Along with the completion, he received several Liberation Balls—Poké Balls designed to safely rehabilitate Pokémon that had been rescued from illegal captivity. He examined one of the balls carefully, reading the description provided by the system. These balls had special properties that helped Pokémon recover from trauma and ensured their loyalty to their rescuer.
Velkris' mind briefly drifted to the Houndoom and Golbat he had obtained during the battle. He knew he had to address them soon, but right now, he needed a clear mind. He decided to deal with their situation after getting a good night's rest.
Placing the Liberation Balls aside, he lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Tomorrow, he would challenge the Cerulean Gym. A battle against Misty's family was sure to be intense, but after everything he had faced so far, he welcomed the challenge.
With that final thought, Velkris closed his eyes, allowing himself to finally rest.