Alain
Returning to the grassy clearing among the forest feels…familiar now. I didn't expect that. Instead, the wind moves through these trees like it has begun to recognize me.
Earlier today, the pursuit through the sky led nowhere. Charizard and I followed that unknown Pokémon until the clouds thinned and the air grew sharp, but just as I closed the distance, it vanished. It felt similar to the distortion that appeared on my first day here.
Charizard lets out a low roar beside me. He is hungry.
"I know," I tell him quietly.
I set my bag down near the stone and unzip the black duffle. Seven Poké Balls rest inside. After the chase, another ring opened in the sky. It shimmered like heated air bending light. Two Poké Balls fell from it before the boy with Pikachu and Luxray stepped into view.
I release them all.
Metagross materializes first, heavy and composed. Tyranitar follows with a grounded thud. Weavile lands lightly, already scanning the area. Bisharp stands upright and alert. Unfezant bursts forward in a flutter of wings and immediately takes to the sky. Chesnaught stretches its arms once before settling. Malamar appears last, silent and unreadable.
They take in their surroundings without panic. I pour Pokémon food into a large bowl and place it on the grass. One by one, they gather and begin eating. Charizard scoops a handful in his claws and lowers himself beside the stone, wings folding carefully behind him.
I sit down and unwrap the sandwich I brought from the Pokémon Center. The forest is quiet except for the sound of chewing and wind shifting through leaves.
My gaze drifts upward. The sky looks ordinary now. Dark blue. Starry. Endless. But it wasn't ordinary this morning. That Pokémon moved with intention. It felt like it was searching…or escaping. Every time I think I am close to understanding why I am here, the answer slips away.
I take a bite and let the silence settle. My thoughts shift despite myself. The boy.
Sorren.
He looked…curious. About me.
I replay the moment in my mind. The way he spoke quickly when nervous. The way he avoided direct eye contact after I answered. The way his Luxray responded to my hand without hostility.
He is inexperienced in some ways. His bond with his Pokémon is strong. Charizard shifts slightly beside me, glancing in my direction.
"You noticed too," I say.
Charizard exhales, a brief puff of heat escaping his nostrils. I finish the last bite of my sandwich and stand, brushing the crumbs from my hands.
As I am about to recall my Pokémon and begin the night training session with Charizard, the sound of a twig being crushed draws my attention. A silhouette comes into view, and soon after, the familiar cry of a Pikachu and the low snarl of a Luxray reaches my ears. Only one person comes to mind.
"Sorren?"
"Umm…Hi, Alain…" he replies sheepishly, as if he has been caught doing something forbidden. "Hope you don't mind us…" He pauses, likely searching for the right word. "tagging along."
"What are you doing here?"
Sorren shifts slightly where he stands, his grip tightening around an incubator resting carefully in his arms, as Pikachu hops onto his shoulder. My eyes went to his waist. No Poryphone today?
"Well…I was thinking you might be here," he says, rubbing the back of his neck with a shy smile. "I had a hunch, to be precise."
I watch him quietly as he speaks.
"And um…Alex told me something before I came here," Sorren continues. "He said you can make your Charizard…mega evolve when I explained to him what I saw last night."
Charizard lets out a low rumble beside me, flames forming faintly at the corners of his mouth. Sorren glances at him with bright curiosity in his eyes.
"I was hoping I could see it."
Before I can respond, Luxray steps forward again, her claws pressing into the dirt as she stares directly at Charizard. The electric type lets out a deep growl, its mane sparking faintly with electricity. Charizard lowers his head slightly, staring back with equal intensity.
"Luxray," Sorren murmurs, placing a hand on her back. The Pokémon relaxes a little but doesn't look away from Charizard. Sorren hesitates for a moment before looking back at me.
"Actually…there was something else I wanted to ask."
I raise an eyebrow. He straightens a little, gathering his courage.
"Would you…maybe have a battle with me?"
The clearing grows quiet. Pikachu tilts his head while Luxray stands ready beside him. I look at him for a long moment. Then I look at his Pokémon. Luxray's stance is firm. Pikachu's eyes are sharp with excitement. Charizard glances at me, waiting. Sorren remains silent, clearly nervous but determined. After a while, I finally speak.
"…Alright."
Charizard lifts his head with a small roar. Sorren's eyes widen in surprise before a smile spreads across his face.
"Really?"
I nod once.
"Yes."
Sorren kneels down holding the incubator with both hands and whispers something to Pikachu, the mouse pokemon responds with a "Pika!" as the pokemon holds the incubator with difficulty and goes to sit with my Pokemon.
"Stay over there with them, okay?" Sorren says softly, "And be careful with it."
He steps back to the other end of the clearing. Luxray walks forward beside him, sparks dancing faintly as she prepares for the battle.
I lift my hand slightly.
"Charizard."
Charizard spreads his wings and lands heavily in front of me, flames burning brighter from his tail.
Sorren pushed his hat back with a small flick of his fingers, a gesture strangely similar to my rival's yet somehow, when he did it, the feeling behind it was completely different.
"Luxray, let's do this! Use Thunder Fang!"
Luxray bursts forward, lightning crackling violently around her fangs as she lunges straight for Charizard.
"Charizard, Flamethrower!"
Charizard opens his jaws and releases a blazing stream of fire. The flames surge across the field and crash directly into Luxray. She refuses to stop as she pushes through the fire, electricity flaring brighter as she leaps upward and snaps her glowing fangs toward Charizard's neck. The impact forces Charizard back a step.
"Thunderbolt!" Luxray lands and immediately releases a bolt of lightning.
"Charizard, dodge and counter with Dragon Claw!"
Charizard beats his wings and twists to the side as the lightning explodes against the ground behind him. His claws ignite with blue energy as he lunges forward. Luxray braces herself.
"Block it with Wild Charge!"
Electricity erupts around Luxray's entire body as she charges straight into Charizard. Dragon energy and violent lightning collide in a blinding explosion. Both Pokémon are thrown apart.
Charizard slides across the ground before digging his claws into the dirt. Luxray skids backward but steadies herself, sparks dancing wildly.
Sorren's eyes shine with excitement. I reach for the keystone on my Mega ring on my wrist.
"Charizard!" He glances back at me.
"Respond to my voice, keystone. Beyond evolution…"
The keystone begins to glow.
"…Mega Evolve!"
Light erupts across the clearing. Energy spirals around Charizard as his body transforms. His wings stretch wider and blue flames burst from his jaw. Mega Charizard roars as the light fades.
Sorren stares in amazement. "Whoa…"
Luxray growls louder, refusing to retreat, "Luxray, Wild Charge!" She launches forward again, her entire body wrapped in violent electricity.
"Charizard, meet her head on with Flamethrower!"
Mega Charizard unleashes a massive torrent of fire. The flames crash directly into Luxray as she charges through the attack. Electricity and fire explode across the battlefield. She pushes through the flames and slams into Charizard with Wild Charge. The force drives Charizard backward across the dirt.
Sorren clenches his fist, "Luxray, Thunderbolt!" Lightning fires point blank.
"Charizard, take it and use Dragon Claw!"
The lightning strikes Charizard's chest. The explosion shakes the ground but Charizard powers through it, as he flies to the sky, roaring as his glowing claws swing downward. The Dragon Claw slams into Luxray and launches her across the clearing. Luxray crashes into the ground and rolls before forcing itself back onto her paws.
Sorren laughs breathlessly, "This is amazing! Use Crunch!"
Luxray charges forward and leaps, her fangs glowing dark as she snaps toward Charizard.
"Charizard, grab her and use Seismic Toss!" Charizard catches Luxray midair and shoots into the sky with a powerful beat of his wings. Luxray struggles violently in his grip.
"Thunder!" Sorren shouts. Lightning crashes down from the sky and strikes Charizard directly. The explosion forces him downward but he tightens his grip and spins. Charizard drives Luxray straight into the ground. The impact shakes the clearing. Dust bursts outward in every direction. Luxray struggles to stand again, breathing heavily.
"Finish this, Charizard. Dragon Claw!" Charizard charges forward with blazing speed, claws glowing with fierce blue energy. Luxray tries to brace herself but her paws suddenly lose traction on the ground. The electric type skids backwards with much force.
"Pika!!" Pikachu screeches from his place. Luxray crashes into Sorren before either of them can react. Both of them slam hard into a nearby tree. The trunk shakes violently from the impact. Leaves rain down from the branches as the clearing suddenly falls silent.
I rush forward immediately, eyes scanning for injuries. Charizard reverts to his original form beside me, "Sorren! Are you okay?"
Sorren slowly sits up, brushing leaves from his shirt. He looks a little dazed, but there's a spark of excitement in his eyes. "I…I'm fine," he says, voice a little breathless. Then a shy smile curls on his lips. "Luxray…she tried her best." He pats her back gently, and she huffs, fur bristling, but calm now.
I shake my head. "She really did. You both went all out."
He chuckles softly, still a bit flushed. "I…I didn't expect to…lose like that. Both the Pokemon tried their best but guess we lacked the power to push through it."
I nod, brushing dust from my gloves. "He's strong, yeah. Always gives everything." I hold out my hand and Sorren takes it. I pull him to his feet just as Pikachu walks over, holding the incubator close to his body, brushing lightly against Sorren's leg.
"Pikaaaa!"
"Thank you for looking after it, Pikachu," Sorren says softly. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine…" He takes the incubator from Pikachu and holds it carefully in one arm before pulling out two Poké Balls and recalling his Pokémon.
"I'm going to sit by the river for a while…do you want to join me?" His voice is so soft that I almost think I imagined it, but his eyes shift from the river flowing just beyond the clearing and back to me.
I recall my Pokémon one by one, including Charizard. Then I nod at Sorren, pick up the duffel bag, and walk with him toward the river.
We find a flat stone by the riverbank and sit down. Sorren opens the incubator and gently takes the egg out, resting it carefully on his lap. For a while, neither of us said anything. The river flows quietly beside us. Then I ask the question that has been on my mind.
"You didn't bring your Poryphone today?"
"H-huh?" He looks startled.
"Your Poryphone."
"I…I didn't think you would notice." He looks back toward the river for a moment before answering, "I didn't want to rely on the power of the sync stone when battling you and…never mind."
Sync stone? Is that what it's called?
Sorren glances at me again, "Umm…are you joining the PML?"
"PML?", I think I heard other trainers mention it earlier. Between the chase, the training, and what happened at the Pokémon Center, I didn't pay much attention.
"Yeah! It's a tournament happening in Pasio!" His voice grows a little more animated. "I…I mean, everyone is forming a team! Do you want to join my team—"
Suddenly the egg in his lap begins to move vigorously before going still again, "T-The egg moved for the first time…" Sorren stares at it in awe before looking up at me. The moonlight reflects in his brown eyes. Then a voice cuts through the quiet.
"Sorren! What's taking you time??"
He jumps slightly and hurriedly places the egg back inside the incubator. He stands up quickly and bows in a rush, "Thank you, A-Alain! For battling and sitting here with me!" He waves before running off. I watch as he grows farther and farther away.
I shake my head, a faint smile finding its way onto my face as I stretch my arms above my head.
Time for another session.
Let's hope we meet again,
Sorren.