Captain Ramirez entered the room to a scene of chaos. People ran back and forth, or talked rapidly into headsets. A large monitor on the wall displayed a map of Eterna Forest, covered in red blips.

  One of the rangers noticed his entrance, snapping to attention.

  “Sir!” he said, with a sloppy salute. The salute wasn't at all necessary, they were Rangers, not soldiers, but Ramirez didn't begrudge the man the formality. The rest of the room became aware of his presence, and the chaos slowed.

  “Report,” Ramirez instructed, “What’s the situation?”

  “Sir, Eterna is in an uproar,” one of the Rangers said, a young woman sitting in front of one of the many monitors.

  “I can see that,” Ramirez replied, “Details.”

  “Not much detail to give sir,” she said.

  “The wild Pokemon are swarming. Reports from the ground suggest that they seem to be working together, with no regards to species.”

  Ramirez frowned. Swarms of Pokemon were not unusual, but they were usually the result of one species or group being displaced. A swarm on this scale was not something he had encountered before.

  “How about groups inside?” he asked, looking up at the map.

  “Seven groups of trainers,” another ranger answered, “and several of our people. Most groups are on the edge, though there are two further in.”

  Ramirez studied the map, sure enough there were two marks much farther in than the others, relatively close together. They marked the last known location of two groups of trainers, both of whom had set off their emergency flares.

  “Can we get to them?” he asked, and the man shook his head.

  “Unlikely sir, teams on the ground are struggling to contain the swarm to the forest.”

  Ramirez frowned. That was not good news. It would be his ass if any of the Challenge Trainers were killed on his watch. He considered his options.

  “Continue focusing on containment,” he ordered, “Coordinate with Gardenia on the north side, if her people can run containment, we can pull ours off to form a rescue party.”

  “Yes sir,” the man saluted, turning away to begin talking into his headset.

  “Sir?”

  Another ranger interrupted his thoughts

  “Yes?”

  “Sir, ground teams are reporting feeling a… presence.”

  Ramirez froze.

  “Say again?”

  “They say they feel like the forest itself is full of rage.”

  Ramirez sighed, “Shit.”

  “Sir?”

  He waved the Ranger away.

  “Not now, I need to make a call.”

  Ramirez reached into his pocket to remove his phone. He didn't get a chance to place a call however, the phone buzzing with an incoming. He answered.

  The voice on the other side was calm, female and confident.

  “Ramirez, what is happening?” the woman asked.

  “It's Vespiquen,” Ramirez replied, “she's raging.”

  There was a moment of silence, before the woman responded.

  “Understood. Aaron and I are on enroute.”

  There was a click, and the call disconnected. No niceties, no pleasantries. Not that Ramirez expected any.

  After all, that was simply how Cynthia was. The Champion was a one woman army. If she was on her way, this situation was as good as solved. It would simply be on him to clean up the mess afterwards. Cynthia didn't do subtle.

  “Chloe!” Fiona screamed, as the other girl was blasted off her feet by an explosion. She landed heavily and lay, unmoving.

  Fiona immediately moved towards, only for Troy to yank her backwards by the collar as the Scyther flashed past her face, barely missing her. She struggled uselessly against his grip as she watched Mochi desperately trying to protect Chloe from the dozen Pokemon that lay between her and the rest of the group.

  “Let me go Troy!” she screamed, fighting his grip, but she knew it was useless, she wouldn't be able to get to her. She had nothing, no one else was left, it was just Mochi standing between Chloe and the hordes.

  Except…

  Heracross!

  Fiona reached down, grabbed the Pokeball and released her new Pokemon. It appeared and looked around, taking in the situation.

  Fiona pointed and shouted.

  “Help Chloe, please!”

  She had no idea if it would listen to her, no idea if it would instead turn on her and join the attack, but it was worth the risk. She had to do something. Anything.

  To her immense relief, the Heracross listened. It turned, lowered its horn and charged, smashing its way through the crowd towards the fallen girl.

  But too slow. She watched, helpless, as Mochi was grabbed by a Tangela and tossed into a tree. She bounced, and fell. The Jigglypuff struggled to her feet, but Chloe was exposed, an Ariados bearing down on her.

  Then, there was a brilliant flash of light and a form appeared in front of Chloe. Fiona blinked. Was that… a Steenee? Where… Reinette! Reinette had evolved!

  Reinette twirled and kicked, smashing the Ariados aside as she stood before her Trainer. She deflected a Poison Sting from a Weedle with a spin of her sepals, then returned fire with a Razorleaf. Then Heracross arrived, imposing its huge form between Chloe and the rest of the attacking Wild Pokemon. Joined by Mochi, who had freed herself from the Tangela, Reinette began assaulting the surrounding Pokemon, making use of her newly gained power to carve through them.

  Fiona breathed a huge sigh of relief. Chloe was out of immediate danger, but the rest of them were still under attack. Troy was shielding Eleanor with his huge body, Junior wrestling a Breloom while Lumen blasted a Gloom with a bolt of electricity. Fiona could tell that he was on his last legs, but he continued bravely defending his trainer.

  Meanwhile Mimi had gotten her jaws onto the Scyther, who had been held in place by Star just long enough for the Mawile to catch it. She roared and pummeled it with a Play Rough battering the terrifying Bug Type until it fainted, her fear and frustration at not being by Chloe’s side being unleashed onto the Scyther. She desperately wanted to dash to Chloe, to tear apart the ones attacking her, but she stayed put, imposing herself between the Wild Pokemon and the other trainers.

  Fiona felt the rising desperation. She needed to do something. They couldn't keep this up forever, and Chloe needed help. The blonde girl still hadn't stirred from where she had fallen, and Fiona could make out the blood covering her face.

  Then she heard the sound of something huge crashing through the forest, and turned her head, dreading what was about to hit them. Except it wasn't a Heracross, or a Pinsir, or any sort of Wild Pokemon. It was a Rhyhorn, with its trainer close behind. Three more followed him, one limping badly, helped along by another, but Fiona felt a surge of hope. All four trainers had Pokemon out, maybe they would get through this.

  That would have to wait however, right now, there was a bigger problem.

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  “Chloe!” She shouted, and she ran to the fallen girl, weaving her way through fallen wild Pokemon, ignoring the new arrivals. Fiona slid to a halt and dropped to her knees beside Chloe.

  “Please be okay.” She begged, reaching for her. Chloe lay on her side, eyes closed, bleeding from a cut on her head.

  “Guys, give us space!” She said to her Pokemon, who were all now crowding her anxiously. She rolled Chloe onto her back and was relieved to see that she was breathing.

  “Chloe, are you okay?” She asked, leaning in close and gently shaking the other girl’s shoulders.

  To her immense relief, Chloe groaned, and mumbled… something.

  “Is she okay?” Eleanor asked quietly from behind her, and Fiona looked up to see the other girl hovering anxiously, eyes full of tears.

  “I don't know, but we should go before more Pokemon show up.” Fiona replied.

  “Troy, mind carrying her?” She asked, turning to where the big trainer was busy applying a potion to his Pokemon, and talking to the new arrivals.

  Troy nodded, and headed over to gently scoop Chloe up, cradling her protectively. Her Pokemon hovered anxiously nearby as he did so.

  One of the newcomers then approached Fiona.

  “Hey,” he said. “Do you guys have a plan?”

  Fiona nodded, and quickly began using potions on both her Pokemon, and on Chloe’s, reaching into the other girl’s bag for a few extras when her own ran out. She really doubted that Chloe would mind.

  “Yeah, get to the ridge over there and bunker down till help gets here.” She replied, hands working. Mochi was especially worse for wear, though both Star and Reinette were practically dead on their feet after the effort.

  “Good plan.” He said, “I’m Peter, by the way.”

  “Fiona.” Fiona said, “That’s Eleanor, and that’s Troy, carrying Chloe.”

  “Is she okay? Any idea what happened?” Peter asked, and Fiona shook her head.

  “I don’t know. It just… it just went to fucking shit.”

  “Amen to that.” Peter agreed.

  “Guys, we should move.” Called one of the other new arrivals, a young man with a Buizel at his side. “I think I hear more coming.”

  Hurriedly, Fiona packed away her gear and shouldered her bag.

  “Right, this way!” She called, and she began to lead the way, her exhausted Pokemon at her side.

  She prayed to Arceus that help was on the way, and that Chloe would be okay.

  Aaron and Cynthia arrived at Eterna together.

  Cynthia’s Togekiss touched down first, wings flaring as she landed on a patch of mossy ground near the ranger trail. Yanmega swept in behind, dropping low enough for Aaron to dismount before immediately taking to the air again, watching the forest for threats.

  Aaron slid his goggles up onto his forehead and scanned the forest.

  It was worse than he’d feared.

  The trees here felt dense, not just in foliage, but in weight, like they were watching. The usual wild chorus of the forest was absent, the air heavy with tension, as if the whole place was holding its breath.

  Cynthia dismounted more slowly, her long black coat flaring behind her as she stepped forward and glanced toward the thickest part of the woods. Her eyes were razor sharp, her presence oddly calm, the eye of the storm.

  “Anything?” she asked.

  Aaron shook his head. “Too quiet.”

  “Togekiss spotted a swarm heading towards where our missing trainers should be,” She said, giving the large Fairy Type a rub on the head. Togekiss trilled with appreciation.

  “You get to the hive and try to calm Vespiquen down.” Cynthia ordered, “I’ll go after our missing kids.”

  Aaron hesitated, frowning. “You sure about that? Might be better to tackle Vespiquen first.”

  “If we let these kids get hurt we’re in for a huge PR nightmare.” Cynthia said. “Besides, you're the Bug Catcher, and she knows you. If anyone can talk her down, it’s you.”

  “And if I can’t?”

  Cynthia gave him a long, steady look.

  “Then I’ll handle it.”

  There was no threat in her tone, just certainty.

  “You’ve got ten minutes before I assume diplomacy failed,” she said. “I’d rather not step in, but if I have to…”

  “I get it.” Aaron slung his pack over one shoulder, then looked up at Yanmega. “Let’s just hope she listens.”

  Cynthia nodded once and swung herself onto Togekiss again. “Be careful. And watch the undergrowth. Something has this forest crawling.”

  Togekiss lifted into the air a moment later, wings barely stirring the heavy, humid air. Cynthia vanished between the trees, heading south, leaving Aaron alone in the silence.

  Alone with a furious queen bee, a hive on the warpath, and one shot at stopping this from turning into a wildfire.

  “Alright,” he muttered, brushing a fern out of his path. “Time to play diplomat.”

  The grove that held Vespiquen’s hive was deeper than most dared go — not because it was especially hidden, but because anyone who came too close didn’t usually come back with anything except sting marks and a newfound respect for Bug-types.

  Aaron, however, didn’t slow down.

  Yanmega led the way, gliding just above the forest floor, wings twitching with tension. Around them, the forest crawled. Aaron could feel the gaze of thousands of eyes on him, but they didn't make a move. That was reassuring, Vespiquen was willing to talk.

  The trees opened into a natural hollow, sunlight piercing through the canopy like golden spears. And at the center, floating regally above her sprawling nest of honeycombs and gnarled roots, was Vespiquen.

  She was massive. larger than most of her species, her striped abdomen flared in warning, her wings droning with barely restrained fury. Combee swirled in agitated patterns behind her, forming a living curtain that pulsed with tension.

  Aaron stopped at the edge of the clearing and gave a half bow, lowering his head to the Eterna monarch He was always blown away by her beauty, a true example of what Bug Types could become.

  “Vespiquen,” he said, respectfully

  The droning intensified, and a ripple passed through the swarm.

  She remembered him. He could feel it. The recognition was there, but it was buried under a tidal wave of rage.

  “I don’t know what’s happened,” he continued, voice steady. “But I’m here to help.”

  Vespiquen hissed, and the swarm surged forward a few feet before halting. Not an attack, a warning.

  Aaron raised both hands, palms open. “Easy. I’m not here to fight. I just want to know what the issue is.”

  Vespiquen responded with a barrage of pheromones. Raw, powerful emotion forced into his mind. It wasn't words, just images. An attack, a hive despoiled, a treasure stolen.

  Aaron reeled from the assault on his mind. He was accustomed to Bug Types, but this Vespiquen was in a league beyond his own. Ancient, powerful. While his was a Queen, this one was an Empress.

  For centuries she had resided at the heart of Eterna, guarding and empowered by the treasure at its core.

  The life orb.

  The Combee were starting to close in, wings buzzing in synchronized pulses. Yanmega dipped lower, eyes narrowed, fangs twitching.

  Aaron stood his ground.

  “I can find out who did it. I can help make it right. But you have to call them off. The trainers in this forest, they’re kids. They didn’t take anything from you.”

  Vespiquen let out a piercing cry, not a command, not yet. But close. She yearned to attack, to destroy him, but she listened.

  “I know you,” Aaron pressed. “You’re not a monster. You protect your hive and I’m trying to protect mine.”

  The droning wavered.

  For a moment, the swarm hesitated, just enough for Aaron to feel it. The doubt. The recognition.

  “Call them off,” He urged. “We can end this peacefully. You have my word that I will recover the Orb”

  Aaron hoped he was getting through to her, because after all, if he failed, then Cynthia would handle the problem.

  The situation had changed, though Fiona wasn't sure if it was for the better. On the one hand, Chloe had woken up. Sure, she was barely coherent, had no idea where the hell she was and had thrown up all over Troy before passing out again, but hey, she’d take it. Another positive was that not only had they made it to the ridge, putting a wall of solid rock to their backs, but the attacks had lessened as well. With the additional help from the other trainers, she now felt almost safe.

  Her Heracross and Peter’s Rhyhorn were now simply parked in place, using their huge, armoured bodies to provide some shelter to the trainers. With Star having had some time to rest, they were now protected from stray attacks. Fiona was growing increasingly confident that they would make it through whatever the hell was happening.

  Or at least, she would be, if it weren't for the other problem that had popped up. Chloe seemed to be improving, but Hana, the girl with the other trainer group, had gotten far worse. The wound on her leg was now an angry shade of purple and red, and the poor girl had gone green. She was now laying next to Chloe, Star nestled between the two girls. A Galarian Rapidash was supposed to have some healing powers tied to their horn, so Fiona figured that maybe Star’s presence would help.

  It was these thoughts that occupied her mind when the forest changed. The heavy, terrifying presence being suddenly being replaced by a sense of… calm. All of a sudden, Eterna Forest, dark, oppressive and terrifying felt tranquil, relaxed. Some internal voice told Fiona that this wasn't right, that she should probably be concerned, but the peace that had slipped over the area won out.

  “Is that who I think it is?” She heard Eleanor asked, the other girl craning her neck to look into the sky. Fiona and the rest of the group followed her gaze to see a woman with long flowing blonde hair gently descending on the back of a Togekiss. Her long black coat swirled as she stepped down to the forest floor.

  No one moved as she surveyed the group, her piercing grey eyes absorbing the scene. The exhausted trainers, their battered, bruised Pokemon. The wild Pokemon laying limp on ground on the edge of the clearing. It was motionless, silent as the Togekiss hovering behind her.

  Then Eleanor exhaled a shaky breath.

  “Holy shit,” she whispered. “That’s Cynthia.”

  It was as if a spell broke. Fiona staggered upright, brushing her bangs back from her sweaty forehead. Troy straightened instinctively, standing a little taller.

  Cynthia didn't respond to their awe, instead she simply lifted her hand up to the side of her head, activating an ear piece through which she simply said.

  “Cynthia here, I have them.”

  Then, she turned her full attention onto the group.

  Peter stepped forward first.

  “Ma’am,” he said, trying to muster something between respect and urgency. “We’ve got two injured. One’s stable. The other…” He glanced at Hana, who was now unconscious, her skin a sickly hue.

  Cynthia gave a single nod, already striding forward. “Let me see.”

  The group parted for her like water. She knelt beside the injured girls, one gloved hand brushing Chloe’s hair back from her forehead. The other rested lightly above Hana’s leg, her eyes narrowing at the angry swelling around the wound.

  “Togekiss,” she said quietly.

  The Fairy-type stepped forward, wings humming softly as it hovered near. It trilled, and released a burst of light that washed over the two injured girls. Chloe stirred again, murmuring incomprehensibly. Hana remained unconscious, but the heat in her wound seemed to lessen almost immediately.

  Cynthia stood.

  “They’ll both need a medivac," he said, “But they’ll hold until then.”

  Fiona found her voice. “What the fuck happened? What is this? Why did the whole forest go insane?”

  Cynthia’s eyes narrowed just slightly.

  “Someone poked their heads where they shouldn't, and nearly got yours bitten off as a result. You kids were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

  Fiona felt her awe being replaced with a surge of anger that she felt even through the calming aura of Togekiss. Chloe had almost been killed, because they were caught up in someone else’s mistake?

  “Umm,” Eleanor ventured, “What happens now?”

  “Now, you wait here.” Cynthia replied. “The problem is being handled, and your ride out is on the way. You kids just sit tight.”

  Cynthia turned and gestured to her Togekiss, who swooped down low enough for the champion to step back up onto its back. Then she paused, one boot on the ground, and turned her head back to the group.

  “You survived something you weren’t meant to.” She told them, tone serious. “That says something. You did well, we’ll handle it from here.

  With those last words, she swung up onto Togekiss. The Fairy-type rose with a rush of air, lifting her above the treetops and vanishing westward.

  For a long time, no one said anything.

  Then Troy, ever faithful, broke the silence.

  “So,” He said, “That was cool.”

  Eleanor shook her head in awe, “Is it weird that I feel safer just knowing she exists?”

  “No,” Peter said. “That was a literal legend.”

  Troy looked down at Chloe, who had stirred again and blinked up at the forest canopy.

  “She’s gonna be pissed she missed that,” he murmured.

  Fiona laughed once, sharp, tired, and real.

  “Yeah,” she said. “But she’s alive. We all are. That’s enough.”

  And for now, it was.