“Are you sure you can't stay for our concert? I wouldn’t even charge tickets,” Roxie said, a playful grin on her face.

  Bianca, Nate, and Hugh stepped off the brow and onto the dock in Castelia City. The pier was a chaotic sea of humanity, tourists, travelers, and city folk alike woven together in a loud, moving tapestry. Nate took in the bustling life displayed before him. A street performer dressed in motley clown attire juggled balls with his foot and nose to a crowd of cheering children. Businessmen, checking watches and clutching briefcases, dashed through the gaps in the crowd, oblivious to the pedestrians they brushed against. Above them all, sightseers gazed up at the artificial skyline, where glass skyscrapers seemed to pierce the clouds. Nate felt small. He was truly in a different world.

  “I appreciate everything you've done for us, Roxie. And I'd love to watch you perform someday, but we really need to be heading off,” Bianca said apologetically.

  “Alright, if you must. But if you're ever around during one of our performances, just let me know and I'll get y'all in free,” she winked.

  Bianca smiled and giggled. “Thanks, I'll remember that for next time.”

  Roxie and her crew unloaded the van from the heavy cargo bay onto the landing zone. Once everything was secured, they exchanged their last goodbyes. As the band vanished into the concrete jungle, the trio headed for the highway.

  “It's a shame we can't stay in Castelia longer. I really want to see what the big city is like,” Hugh remarked, staring out at the passing alleyways from his seat.

  “I'm sure we'll end up back here someday, right Bianca?” Nate asked.

  “I wouldn't doubt it for a second,” Bianca said cheerfully.

  “So how long until we get to Nuvema Town?” Hugh asked, stifling a yawn.

  He must still be drowsy from his nap.

  “Well, we still have quite the road trip ahead of us. Maybe four hours? Give or take,” Bianca said, her voice pitching up slightly as she delivered the bad news.

  “That takes us to around 6:00 for our arrival time. Will that be enough?” Nate asked.

  “It's perfect. No need to worry about that.”

  The next several hours were relatively silent, filled only by the hum of the engine and the road. Hugh dozed off again in the back seat while Nate watched the urban sprawl slowly bleed into rolling hills and dense forests. Bianca had her phone connected to the van's Bluetooth, filling the silence with soft pop music.

  Bzzzt. Bzzzt.

  Nate looked at the caller ID on the dashboard. Cheren.

  Bianca tapped the screen. “Hey Cheren! We're on our way. Just about an hour and a half away.”

  “That's great! I just wanted to let you know the wool arrived. We've finished wrapping the Pokémon, and they showed immediate improvement,” Cheren’s voice crackled through the speakers, sounding relieved.

  “Oh good, I'm glad to hear that. So everything's okay?”

  “Everything is fine. We've got a few more beds to make before we finish. Looks like we'll be done before you get here.”

  “Great. Well, we'll see you soon then!”

  “C'ya!”

  Nate noticed Hugh stirring awake at the sound of the call.

  “The wool? You mean the Mareep wool Hugh and I sheared?” Nate asked Bianca.

  “Oh. Yeah. We got the shipment today,” she replied.

  “But we sheared that wool over a month ago. Why is it getting to you just now?” Hugh asked from the back, rubbing his eyes.

  “Mareep wool in its raw form can be a bit tricky to handle. We wanted it to maintain a charge on the wool without it unintentionally shocking us. So it had to be sent to a special treatment facility before we could use it,” Bianca explained.

  “And it's for sick Pokémon, right?” Nate added.

  “Mhmm,” Bianca nodded. “We got a lot of sick Electric-type Pokémon at the pasture. Seems like Cheren and the rest of the team are managing the situation well.”

  “That's a relief,” Hugh said. “I'm glad all that hard work shearing actually went to good use.”

  Nate remembered Mr. Carrington saying that the order of wool suddenly doubled. He didn't think much of it at the time, but now, given the context…

  “Bianca, exactly how many sick Pokémon are there?” Nate asked.

  “Oh. Quite a lot, actually,” Bianca's tone shifted, losing its usual bounce. “We're not sure what happened, but there was… an incident in Chargestone Cave.”

  “Chargestone Cave?” The name puzzled Nate.

  “It's home to many wild Electric-type Pokémon,” Hugh interjected. “The electromagnetism in the caves is so strong that the stones become charged with electrical potential, causing them to float.”

  “Uh-huh, that's right, Hugh. And something happened there that caused a great number of wild Electric-types to become sick. The Pokémon Center near the cave was so overwhelmed by patients that they called us for help. And so we now have some of them at the pasture.”

  “But what could have caused such a thing to happen?” Nate asked.

  “Like I said, we don't know. Professor Juniper and her team are working on finding an answer. In the meantime, Mr. Orens, the lead director for the pasture, has been taking care of the sick Pokémon."

  The news brought Nate a cold sense of discomfort. He was glad the Pokémon were recovering, but a mass illness felt eerie. He wondered if the cause was something natural or, perhaps, man-made.

  The rest of their journey passed in a blur, save for a quick stop to stretch their legs. It was still summer, so the sun hung high and golden in the sky even as evening approached. Finally, Bianca pulled into the main entrance of the University.

  “We’re here!” Bianca announced. “The Research and Development Department is all the way towards the back because of all the extra land needed for the pastures.”

  The campus was quiet, mostly free of people. Classes were not scheduled to start for a little over a week, and summer hours had long ended. Only a few dedicated students and staff remained, stealing a few extra hours of study in the fading light. They passed different departments, Bianca carefully pointing each out so Nate and Hugh could get their bearings.

  The further they drove into the campus, the less dense the buildings became. Bianca pulled up a long driveway leading to a security gate. She rolled down the window, scanned her key card, and the gate buzzed open.

  They pulled into the main driveway, which led straight to a modern, glass-fronted building. Surrounding it were several other facilities and vast stretches of green where Pokémon of various types grazed and played. Nate couldn’t get a good look at all of them, but the scale of the operation was massive.

  “And this is Professor Juniper’s lab! Hopefully, everyone is still here. Once we’re done, I’ll take you to your dorms to get settled in,” Bianca said.

  Nate and Hugh trailed Bianca as she led the way. Nate felt his heart begin to hammer against his ribs.

  The team… Professor Juniper… It’s all becoming real.

  The glass doors swung open. Bianca stepped in cheerfully. “Hey everyone! We’re here!” she exclaimed, her voice full of enthusiasm.

  They were met with silence. Not because the room was empty, but because the atmosphere was heavy, like the air before a storm.

  Off to the side of the main lobby, four young Trainers were gathered around a U-shaped couch. Nate saw a boy standing silently with a Joltik clinging to his chest. A girl stood beside him, cradling an Emolga wrapped in a makeshift sweater. On the couch sat another girl, turned away from him, holding an ice pack to her head with a Snivy assisting her. Next to her knelt a boy with glasses. They all looked exhausted, their clothes rumpled and faces drawn.

  The boy kneeling next to the girl stood up and met eyes with Bianca.

  “B-Bianca!” he stammered. The rest of the group looked up.

  “Cheren, is something wrong?” She walked quickly over to the couch. “Rosa! What happened to you?”

  Bianca knelt down to examine her.

  “It’s okay, Bianca, I'm fine. I just had an accident. That’s all,” Rosa said, trying to downplay the injury, though her voice was tight.

  “More like an incident,” the girl with the Emolga said dryly. “Are you sure that Elekid didn’t hit you too hard?”

  “I’m fine, Hilda, honestly,” Rosa insisted. She adjusted the ice pack. Her Snivy, using Vine Whip to keep the pack steady, adjusted with her, offering a soft whimper of concern.

  “It doesn’t look too bad,” Bianca noted, peering at the bruise Rosa had exposed. “How did this happen?” She turned to Cheren.

  “She tried treating a sick Elekid here in the lab. It had to be locked in containment due to its aggression. And as you can see, it didn’t go so well,” Cheren explained grimly.

  It was at this point Nate caught the eye of the silent boy with the Bug Pokémon clinging to his jacket. He gave Nate a little smirk and a chin-lift, The universal “Sup” gesture. Nate nodded back.

  “I don’t want to break up the mood, but we do have guests still standing here awkwardly,” the boy announced to the group.

  The team turned to face Nate and Hugh. Nate finally saw Rosa clearly. Her hair was tied back, exposing a nasty bruise on her forehead. She looked tired, worn, and beaten. But something about her caught his attention. There was a certain elegance in her eyes that conveyed both bold determination and a lingering vulnerability. To Nate, she was… intriguing. And pretty.

  “Oh my goodness, Hugh, Nate, I’m so sorry!” Bianca said, jumping up. She adjusted her glasses and took a deep breath. “Everyone, this is Hugh and Nate. Our newest team members from Aspertia City!” Her cheery voice returned, pivoting from the tragedy of Rosa’s injury to the excitement of introductions with practiced ease.

  “Hello,” Hugh said softly, bringing his hand up in a pathetic attempt at a wave. Nate felt his own face heating up. All he could do was force a smile.

  You’re making a great first impression there.

  “Hi, nice to meet you both,” Cheren said, stepping forward. He offered them handshakes. “I’m Cheren, the team leader. I wanted to say thank you for the Mareep wool. It was invaluable to us.”

  “The wool really helped?” Hugh asked.

  “You bet! Just look at this cute little Emolga! I made this sweater out of the wool to help heal it,” Hilda said, holding up the rodent. Emolga sat snugly in Hilda’s arms, looking happy and warm.

  “And this Joltik hasn’t let go of me since I put this bandage over it,” the other boy said. The Joltik clung to his jacket with all four of its eyes shut.

  “Aww, you’ve finally made a friend, Hilbert,” Hilda teased.

  “Beats hanging out with you all day!” Hilbert retorted.

  “As you might’ve guessed, that’s Hilda and Hilbert. They’re Trainers, too,” Cheren said.

  “Nice to meet you guys,” Hilbert replied.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  “You guys challenged a Gym Leader just to get here?” Hilda asked, looking them over.

  “Ha! Oh yeah! We heard about that. If it were me, I would’ve just taken my chances swimming!” Hilbert laughed.

  “It wasn’t us, it was all Nate,” Hugh corrected.

  The spotlight swung onto Nate. He felt a rush of blood run to his head.

  “Well, I didn’t challenge her…” Nate admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “Our ferry got cancelled and she offered to take us if I beat her in a Pokémon battle.”

  “And you won. That’s pretty wild,” Hilbert said.

  “And here I thought you were just trying to impress us,” Hilda remarked with a smirk.

  “Anyway…” Cheren cut in, “we really appreciate your hard work. The wool helped save all the Pokémon.”

  “All except for one,” Rosa said softly. Her tone was dull, defeated.

  “Right… except for one,” Cheren admitted.

  “Oh! And this beautiful Bellossom is Rosa, my cousin.” Hilda sat next to Rosa and patted her shoulder. The contact made Rosa wince and quietly hiss “Ow” under her breath. “And if either of you hurt her, I will end you!” She glared at them with a ‘not-so-serious-but-don’t-test-me’ look.

  “Hello,” Rosa said. She took the ice pack off her head and set it down, then lifted Snivy onto her lap. “This is Snivy, my partner.” Snivy let out a soft grunt, indicating she was glad to meet the new members but still worried about Rosa.

  “It looks like you’ve finally made it!” Professor Juniper’s voice rang out.

  Juniper and Ms. Gabby walked over to the group huddled around the couch.

  “Welcome, Nate and Hugh! I’m finally glad to meet you in person. This is my assistant, Ms. Gabby,” she said.

  “A pleasure,” Ms. Gabby replied. She looked younger than Juniper, her voice soft but straightforward. She wore a lab coat just like the Professor and had dark red hair tied in a severe bun.

  “Nate, how’s Oshawott been?” Juniper asked.

  “Oshawott’s been doing great. I think he and I make a great team,” Nate replied, trying to be as respectful as possible.

  “So I’ve heard. You managed to take on a Gym Leader already. That’s really impressive for just receiving your first Pokémon today.”

  Juniper turned to the couch. “How are you doing, Rosa? Is your head feeling okay?”

  “I’m doing fine. It’s just bruised a little,” Rosa replied.

  “By the way, Rosa,” Juniper continued, “your Snivy and Nate’s Oshawott are really good friends. I've had them with me here in the lab for a long time now. Nate, would you mind bringing out Oshawott? It’s been a while since they’ve seen each other.”

  “Oh, umm, alright,” Nate said. He looked over at Rosa for a brief second. Their eyes met, and he felt his heart kick up a gear. He swore he turned red and immediately averted his gaze to his belt. He fumbled with the capsules, grabbing what he thought was Oshawott’s ball.

  He threw it.

  “Riolu! Sorry, I-I didn’t mean to…” Nate stammered as the wrong Pokémon materialized.

  Riolu paid no attention to Nate. His eyes darted instantly toward the depths of the lab.

  “Oh my, Riolu! I didn’t know you had one, Nate,” Juniper said, surprised.

  “I hear it. I hear his cries. I feel his pain.” Riolu’s voice echoed in Nate's mind.

  Riolu darted off into the hallway, catching everyone by surprise. He was out of sight within seconds.

  “Riolu, wait!” Nate shouted. He bolted after his Pokémon.

  “Oh no, not again!” Bianca cried. She scrambled up and ran right after Nate.

  “Bianca!” Hugh shouted. She ran past him without turning around, so Hugh followed. Confused, the rest of the group trailed after them.

  Riolu led Nate to a secluded room tucked away in the back of the facility. Nate skidded into the room and found Riolu staring at a reinforced glass wall. He was perfectly still, fixated on whatever was inside.

  “Riolu, what are you doing!? You can’t go running around the Professor’s Lab like that!” Nate scolded, breathless. He was disappointed in Riolu for acting so rashly, but mostly, he felt embarrassed.

  Some trainer you are…

  He walked over to Riolu. Nate looked up from his Pokémon to the yellow creature staring directly back. Its eyes were narrow, the whites bloodshot with rage. Sparks of electricity crackled violently around its body, snapping against the air.

  “This is him. This is the Elekid that attacked that girl,” Riolu projected.

  “What do you sense, Riolu?” Nate whispered.

  “It feels like… burning. A pain that originates from within.”

  “Nate! What’s up with Rio…” Bianca gasped, entering the room behind him. She froze. “Is that…”

  “Elekid,” Nate replied.

  The door swung open wider. Hugh and the rest of the team piled in.

  “That’s Elekid in there!” Hugh exclaimed.

  “Yes, the same Elekid that hurt Rosa,” Juniper stated, stepping to the front. “I’m sorry, but we can’t stay here. It will only enrage it further.”

  “It looks helpless… Those sparks… Professor, we have to do something!” Hugh protested.

  “We already tried that!” Rosa shouted, her voice cracking. She clenched Snivy tighter. “It’s no use. Elekid will not let people near it.”

  “C’mon, Nate. It’s time to leave,” Ms. Gabby said, reaching out to guide Nate away.

  “The lights. The machines. Even the people! We’re all buzzing! To him, it is a deafening scream!” Riolu’s voice pierced Nate’s thoughts.

  “It’s the lights…” Nate whispered. He looked at Riolu, who nodded solemnly.

  “Excuse me?” Ms. Gabby asked, pausing.

  Nate and Riolu shared a silent, intense glance.

  “The lights,” Nate said, turning to Ms. Gabby, his voice gaining strength. “Turn them off. And all the machines in the room. It’s overstimulating Elekid!”

  “And what makes you say that?” Ms. Gabby asked, eyes narrowing with suspicion.

  “You see the way Elekid darts around the containment?” Nate pointed.

  Elekid was pacing frantically, staring at the walls, the people, the ceiling lights, and everything that made even the slightest hum.

  “It’s targeting the source,” Rosa realized aloud.

  “Exactly,” Nate nodded to her, briefly meeting her eyes. He quickly turned back to Elekid. “We need to get him out. Or shut everything down.”

  “Professor…” Ms. Gabby turned to Juniper.

  “It certainly seems plausible. The magnetic fields created by the electricity in the machines could potentially be interfering with Elekid’s ability to regulate its own charge. Whatever happened in Chargestone Cave could’ve caused Elekid to become hypersensitive to its environment,” Juniper theorized rapidly.

  “Professor, let Riolu and I try to help Elekid,” Nate pleaded.

  He didn’t know where his sudden determination came from. All he knew was that he was supposed to help. Whether it was bravery or stupidity, he didn’t care.

  “If what you say is correct, we might be able to.”

  The room was plunged into darkness. The only light came from a single window, bleeding in sunlight and the angry blue sparks flying off Elekid’s head.

  Nate entered the containment chamber with Riolu close by. He wore the same heavy rubber gear Rosa had worn earlier. Hugh stood outside the glass wearing safety gear as a backup, just in case things went wrong.

  As Nate entered, Elekid’s focus snapped to him. It stared Nate down, muscles coiled, waiting for the first move.

  “We’ll approach this very cautiously,” Nate thought toward Riolu.

  “Once we get in close, I can use my aura to ground out his electricity,” Riolu replied.

  “Do you think you can handle it?”

  “I can use Endure to withstand the initial shocks. After that, it’ll be up to you to get him wrapped in wool.”

  Nate took a step forward. Elekid raised its arms, prepared to defend itself. Underneath the aggression, Nate could see the exhaustion and terror in its posture.

  “It’s okay, Elekid. We’re here to help,” Nate said softly.

  Elekid growled, sparks flaring brighter as if signalling a warning.

  Nate looked at the floor. Lying there was an electrical face shield, discarded in the earlier chaos.

  The mask.

  He raised his hands slowly to his own helmet. With a click, he unlatched it and pulled the face shield off, revealing his skin, his eyes, his humanity.

  “You see? I’m just a Trainer. Looking to help you get better,” Nate said gently.

  He could hear the muffled protests of the onlookers outside the glass, panicked that he was removing his protection, but he tuned them out.

  The gesture seemed to work. Elekid lowered its arms slightly. The rage in its eyes flickered, replaced by confusion, and then a desperate plea for help.

  The distracted Elekid did not notice Riolu approaching from the flank. Riolu seized the opportunity, grabbing hold of the plug-like appendages protruding from Elekid’s head. Startled, Elekid released a massive Thundershock, channeling it directly through Riolu’s body.

  “I am Enduring the shock. Let my aura ground out all the electricity before you attempt to use the wool,” Riolu strained.

  A blue light surrounded Riolu, fusing with the yellow sparks. Riolu dug his feet into the floor, planting himself like a lightning rod. The aura-infused electricity flowed through him and into the ground, dispersing in harmless waves.

  Nate moved. Now that Elekid was drained of its excess charge, he carefully wrapped the round body in the Mareep wool. Elekid’s anger melted into a gentle hum. The Pokémon’s eyes drooped, and it fell into a trance-like sleep as Nate tied off the final knot.

  That was a bold move.

  The tension in the room evaporated, but for Rosa, it was replaced by a cold knot in her stomach. Nate had successfully subdued the Elekid with a gentle approach where she had only found violence.

  What is it that he did right that I did wrong?

  Rosa’s thought curdled into shame. She felt a sting of jealousy. She wasn’t angry at Nate or his Riolu, but deeply frustrated with herself. This stranger, who she had met five minutes ago, had outperformed her in front of everyone.

  You couldn’t even help a sick Pokémon. That is your specialty.

  The success of healing all the other Pokémon was drowned out by her singular failure with Elekid. To Rosa, this wasn't just an accident, it was her medical past haunting her, a glaring sign of her inadequacy as a medical professional and a Trainer. It was about proving to herself, to her cousin, her team, and to her parents that she was capable. But her failure made her question whether she deserved to be on the team at all.

  “Wow, Nate actually did it,” Hilda whispered next to her. There was no sarcasm in her voice, just pure amazement.

  “He did,” Rosa replied quietly. She squeezed Snivy closer, seeking comfort in the cool scales of her partner.

  Nate exited the containment with the sleeping Elekid in his arms. Riolu followed, carrying the two face shields in his paws. Juniper and Ms. Gabby rushed forward to take the patient.

  “We’ll need to keep it secure for the night. Cheren, are there any beds available for Elekid?” Juniper asked, cradling the Pokémon.

  “Yes, Professor. I can get Elekid its own bed,” he replied.

  “Get Mr. Orens to prepare a place. Make sure he knows to keep any electrical equipment away from it,” she added.

  “Will do.”

  Cheren darted out of the room. The light from the hallway briefly cut across the dim lab as the door opened and closed. Only a small ray of fading sunlight peering through a window lit the room.

  “I must say, Nate, you handled that well. Thank you, really,” Juniper said, acknowledging him.

  “I… just wanted to help,” Nate said, looking down.

  I get that. I wanted to help, too.

  “That was pretty impressive, Nate,” Rosa said. She tried to sound encouraging, but the words felt hollow in her mouth.

  “Y-yeah. Uh, thanks,” Nate replied shortly. He looked away, avoiding eye contact.

  Rosa’s heart sank. Nate’s reaction confirmed her fears.

  Maybe he’s just shy?

  But if he were shy, he wouldn’t have been bold enough to walk into a cage with an enraged electric monster. No, it was her. Her insecurity must be so tangible that it was pushing people away. She felt exposed, like everyone could see the failure written on her face. She didn’t want to talk anymore. She just wanted to disappear.

  The sun was setting over the distant hills, casting long shadows across the campus. Mr. Orens worked with Juniper and Ms. Gabby to secure Elekid, while the rest of the team gathered back in the lobby around the U-shaped couch.

  “So how'd you know?” Hilbert asked, breaking the somber silence.

  “I mean, we all heard Bianca shout ‘not again!’ right as Riolu started running,” he stated. He didn't sound accusatory, just genuinely baffled.

  Nate looked at them. All eyes were on him.

  “Oh, I did?” Bianca sounded guilty. “Well, it's just that… Riolu ran off like that before… that's how we…”

  “Were able to find Roxie,” Hugh finished for her. He looked at Nate, puzzled. “You knew to follow Riolu.”

  “I did… I mean... I guess so?” Nate couldn't give a straight answer. He couldn't possibly convince his new team he heard Riolu's voice. They would think he was crazy.

  “And you brought out Riolu to lead you straight to Elekid,” Hilbert continued.

  Nate remembered fumbling his Poké Ball in a fit of nerves. That was right after he locked eyes with…

  “That was an accident! I meant to call out Oshawott,” he insisted. “I didn't mean for Riolu to run off.”

  “Hey, I'm not blaming you for anything. It's thanks to Riolu you were able to help Elekid,” Hilbert assured him, leaning back. “It's just… strange how Riolu ran straight for Elekid and you immediately had the solution.”

  Nate nodded. From the outside, it looked like he had intricate, preternatural knowledge.

  “I just followed Riolu. I was just as clueless as everyone else,” Nate replied.

  “But how is it that Riolu knew where Elekid was, just like how he knew where to find Roxie?” Hugh questioned.

  “Riolu is an ‘Aura’ Pokémon,” Cheren stated, adjusting his glasses. “Perhaps Riolu could sense Elekid’s Aura, knowing it wanted to be helped. Similarly, it could have sensed Roxie's Aura, knowing she was willing to give help.”

  “Yeah, but that still doesn't explain why Nate knew how to help Elekid,” Hilda interjected, crossing her arms. “It's not like Riolu could tell him the problem.”

  If only you knew.

  “Nate, do you think Riolu was able to communicate Elekid’s problems to you?” Cheren asked, his analytical mind working.

  “I don't… I mean… is that even possible?” Nate deflected.

  “I don't know,” Cheren admitted. “Riolu and Lucario are said to form special bonds with their Trainers through Aura. Each bond is unique. I wouldn't put it past Riolu to have such capabilities.”

  It was certainly plausible. Nate didn't know much about Aura, but he knew he had already formed a link with Riolu that defied explanation.

  “Sounds spooky, Nate. I gotta tell ya, you really made a first impression,” Hilda said, grinning.

  “Yeah, I can't wait to see your other superpowers!” Hilbert laughed.

  Nate shared the laugh, relieved the interrogation was over. Despite the exhaustion of the day, he felt a warmth settling in his chest. He was with his new team.

  As the evening came to a close, Bianca drove Nate and Hugh to their new dorms. They shared a suite with two separate rooms. Nate dragged his luggage inside but was too tired to unpack. He collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling, reflecting on the day. From receiving his first Pokémon to defeating Roxie, and then soothing an enraged Elekid… he felt like he'd lived a lifetime in twelve hours.

  And this was only day one.

  End of Part 1