Two Days Earlier
For forty-eight hours, the secret warehouse in the industrial district of Cerulean did not sleep.
While the city outside buzzed with the hype of the upcoming Grand Final—debating whether Enzo's strategy could overcome Steven Stone's impenetrable defense—the man in question wasn't training his Pokémon. He wasn't running laps or practicing move combinations.
He was moving pieces on a map.
Inside the command tent, the air was thick with the smell of stale coffee and ozone. A large holographic map of the Kanto coastline hovered above the metal table.
"The exchange point is here. You trade clothes with the Aqua guy and leave as fast as you can." Enzo said, his voice raspy from lack of sleep, pointing to a secluded cove on the map.
Ronnie nodded, his eyes scanning the route. He looked exhausted but focused.
Downstairs, back in the lab, completely ignored by the tactical planning, Professor Leni was in a world of his own. He was surrounded by stacks of paper, scribbled notes, and old textbooks. His hair was a mess, and his eyes were wide with a manic intensity.
"Fascinating... simply fascinating," Leni muttered to himself, furiously typing on a data pad as the fairy type thesis continued.
Enzo stood up and looked at the digital clock on the wall. The countdown had reached zero. The time for planning was over.
"Pack it up," Enzo ordered, his voice turning cold. "Initiate the protocol."
Present Day: Cerulean City Train Station
The station was a chaotic hive of commuters, tourists, and trainers, but Lilian Jenny didn't notice any of them.
She was standing near the entrance of Platform 9, nervously checking her reflection in a shop window. She wasn't wearing her uniform.
Instead, she wore a pair of blue denim jeans with a slight flare at the bottom, classic white canvas sneakers, and a white off-the-shoulder blouse with a ruffled neckline that softened her usually sharp features. A small brown leather bag hung from her shoulder, and her hair, normally tied back in a strict tactical bun, fell loose over her shoulders in teal waves.
She looked beautiful. And she looked terrified.
"Stupid," she whispered to herself, smoothing out a non-existent wrinkle in her shirt. "Why am I nervous? It's just a tour. I've arrested guys twice his size."
She checked her watch for the tenth time. "And he's late. Typical..."
She turned around to scan the crowd again, searching for Enzo.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed behind her.
"Boo."
Lilian's police training kicked in faster than her conscious thought. She spun on her heel, her elbow flying backward in a perfect tactical strike aimed at the assailant's ribs.
Thud.
The blow never connected. A gloved hand caught her elbow mid-swing, stopping it with effortless strength.
Lilian blinked, her heart hammering in her chest. Standing there was a tall figure dressed in a stylish black varsity jacket with white leather sleeves and a large, Gothic 'E' embroidered on the chest. A dark blue bucket hat was pulled low over his eyes, and a white face mask covered the lower half of his face, completing the incognito look.
The figure's eyes crinkled at the corners. He was smiling under the mask.
"Easy, Officer," Enzo's muffled voice teased, gently lowering her arm. "Is that how you greet your date? That's assault on a civilian."
Lilian yanked her arm back, her face flushing a deep shade of red. "Enzo! You idiot!" she hissed, looking around to see if anyone had noticed the commotion. "You nearly got a broken rib! Don't sneak up on me like that!"
Enzo chuckled, adjusting his bucket hat. "I couldn't resist, you were so focused on the window."
"I was not!" Lilian lied quickly. She crossed her arms, trying to regain her composure. "And you're late. I've been standing here for fifteen minutes."
"I apologize," Enzo said, raising his hands in surrender. "Checkout at the hotel was a nightmare. Apparently, half the city wanted an autograph before I left the lobby. I had to sneak out through the kitchen."
It was a lie, of course. He had teleported out hours ago.
Lilian sighed, shaking her head, but she couldn't hide the small smile that tugged at her lips. She looked him up and down. "And what is with the outfit?"
"It's called 'incognito' by Devon," Enzo said, winking behind the bucket hat. "Unless you want a mob of fans following us all the way to Pallet Town, I suggest we keep a low profile."
"Fine," Lilian grumbled, gesturing toward the gates. "Let's go. The train leaves in five minutes."
"Lead the way, cadet," Enzo said.
As she turned to walk ahead, Enzo's playful demeanor vanished for a split second. He checked his pocket to ensure the secure phone was there, then followed her into the station. The mission had begun.
The sliding glass doors of the First Class carriage hissed shut, cutting off the chaotic noise of the station instantly. The sudden silence was heavy, smelling of conditioned air and expensive leather.
Enzo whistled low, pulling down his face mask to breathe freely. He looked around the private cabin. It was spacious, with two plush, cream-colored leather armchairs facing each other by a large panoramic window.
"Wow," Enzo said, running a hand over the headrest. "I never thought you would spend your cadet salary on luxury. I'm honored, Officer."
Lilian rolled her eyes, dropping her brown bag onto the seat. She looked relieved to be away from the crowd. "It's not luxury, it's a necessity," she replied, sitting down and crossing her legs. "You are too recognizable now. If we had gone in Economy, we wouldn't have had a minute of peace. I just wanted..." She hesitated, looking out the window. "...a quiet trip."
Enzo sat opposite her, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Already paying for privacy with me? That's bold, Lilian."
Lilian felt the heat rise to her cheeks. She pointed a finger at him. "Shut up and sit back. Don't make me regret this."
Enzo chuckled, raising his hands in surrender, and settled into the leather chair. "Understood, ma'am."
The magnetic train hummed to life. With a smooth lurch, they were moving, the scenery of Cerulean City quickly blurring into streaks of color as they accelerated toward the countryside.
For the first twenty minutes, the silence was comfortable. But as the train sped through the green fields of Route 5, the dynamic changed.
Enzo wasn't looking at the view. He wasn't looking at Lilian. He was hunched over his smartphone, his thumbs moving across the screen with a speed and intensity that didn't match the relaxing environment.
To Lilian, he looked like a bored teenager. To anyone who knew better, he was a general moving troops.
>> Proton: Asset 4 in position. East perimeter.
>> Ronnie: Launcher assembled. Waiting for the signal.
>> Enzo: Hold. Wait for the distraction.
Lilian watched him. She shifted in her seat, smoothing her white blouse. She tried to catch his eye, but he was completely absorbed. A flicker of annoyance crossed her face.
"Am I that boring?" Lilian asked, her voice sharp enough to cut through his focus. "What is so interesting on that screen?"
Enzo didn't flinch. He typed one last command—Stand by—and locked the phone, sliding it into the pocket of his varsity jacket. He looked up, putting on his best innocent smile.
"No, nothing like that," he said quickly. "I'm just... addicted to this new game. Trying to kill time."
Lilian raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "You? A gamer?" she said flatly. "You don't strike me as the type."
"It's called Pokémon Mystery Dungeon," Enzo lied without missing a beat, leaning back in his seat. "Pure strategy. Resource management, predicting enemy movements… keeps the brain sharp."
Lilian studied him for another second, searching his face for cracks. Then she sighed and waved it off.
"I guess I can't blame you. We weren't allowed to play games at the Academy. My family's… very strict about discipline."
Enzo nodded thoughtfully. Right on cue. He tilted his head, his tone shifting into something casually curious.
"You mentioned your aunt earlier," he said. "She's kind of your role model, right? Is that why you wanted to become an Officer Jenny?"
Her expression softened instantly. "Yeah. My Aunt Jenny," Lilian said, smiling despite herself. "She's the Sheriff of Pallet Town. She's... intense. But she's the reason I joined the force."
"So she inspired you," Enzo continued gently. "But… what about your mother? Was she an Officer Jenny too?"
Lilian shook her head, her gaze dropping to her lap. "No. I'm a Jenny on my father's side. My aunt is his older sister."
She hesitated, fingers tightening slightly around the strap of her bag. "My mom wasn't part of law enforcement. She was just… normal."
A small, heavy pause filled the luxury cabin. The rhythmic hum of the train seemed to fade into the background.
"She had a heart condition. Fought it for years." Her voice dipped, becoming small. "…One day she just didn't wake up."
Enzo blinked. For once, the shift in his expression wasn't fake. The mask of the charismatic celebrity slipped, revealing something somber underneath.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly.
He didn't push. He knew better than most what absence felt like. The silence stretched between them, not awkward, but shared.
After a beat, he added carefully, trying to steer the conversation back to safer ground. "What happens when someone in the Jenny family has a son? Do they all become cops, too?"
That earned a small huff of laughter from her. "Most of them do work with the police," she admitted. "Like my dad. But obviously, they're not Officer Jennys."
Enzo frowned slightly. "Your father's a cop too?"
Lilian corrected. "Sort of. He barely stayed home. International Police."
That made Enzo stiffen internally. His posture didn't change, but his instincts screamed Danger. The International Police wasn't just local law enforcement. They were the elite. The ones who hunted organizations like Team Rocket across borders.
"Then… you didn't see him much?"
She shook her head, looking out the window at the passing fields. "Not for years. That's why my Aunt Jenny basically raised me. After my mom passed, my dad… he buried himself in the job. He couldn't handle being at home. So I grew up in Pallet Town."
She let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh. "For all intents and purposes, I was an orphan."
As soon as the word left her mouth, Lilian froze. The air in the cabin seemed to drop a few degrees. Her eyes snapped back to Enzo, widening in sudden panic. She realized exactly who she was talking to. Enzo—the guy who had practically raised himself, whose "orphan" backstory was known by everyone in Kanto.
"Oh god. Enzo, I—" She stammered, her face flushing a deep crimson. "I didn't mean to say that. I mean—I know I wasn't really… and you actually are… I didn't mean to be insensitive. I shouldn't have compared—"
Enzo watched her panic with a calm, unreadable expression. He didn't flinch. He didn't look hurt. Honestly, he didn't care. To him, his past was just a set of facts, not an open wound.
"Lilian," he interrupted, his voice steady and low. "Relax."
"But I just—it was stupid of me to—"
"It's fine," Enzo said, leaning forward slightly to catch her eyes, cutting through her anxiety. "Really. You didn't say anything wrong."
He shrugged, leaning back into the leather seat with casual elegance. "I know my situation. I accepted it a long time ago. It doesn't define me, and it certainly doesn't offend me. You don't have to walk on eggshells around me."
Lilian looked at him, searching his face for any sign of hidden hurt or anger. She found none. Just a calm, almost bored confidence. She let out a long breath she had been holding, her shoulders sagging in relief.
"Okay," she whispered. "Sorry. I just… didn't want to be that person."
"You weren't," Enzo assured her with a small, genuine smile, then he continued
"International Police, huh. That sounds… serious. Anyone famous?"
She hesitated, biting her lip. "They don't really use real names to protect their identities. Everyone goes by codenames. So you wouldn't know him even if I told you his name," She glanced out the window at the passing mountains. "But in Sinnoh, he's pretty well-known."
Enzo's fingers twitched on the armrest. "…What is his codename?"
"Looker."
For a fraction of a second, Enzo forgot how to breathe.
Looker.
The name echoed in his mind like a gunshot. One of the most dangerous, persistent, and skilled investigators in the Pokémon world. The man who had dismantled multiple criminal organizations in his past life. The man who was a ghost in the underworld. This girl... is Looker's daughter?
If he hurts her... if this operation goes wrong and something happens to Lilian... the entire force of the International Police would descend on him.
He forced his face to remain neutral. Inside, his thoughts raced. When was the last time you heard from him? Where is he now?
Aloud, he asked, casually, "Still active?"
"Last I heard, he was on an undercover mission," Lilian said, oblivious to the panic she had just induced. "Infiltrating some criminal organization in Sinnoh."
Enzo relaxed. Sinnoh, he is far away.Good.
Eventually, the train began to slow down. The intercom announced their arrival at Pallet Town.
Enzo smiled, pushing the dark thoughts away. "Well… I'm looking forward to meeting your aunt."
Lilian smirked, standing up and smoothing her jeans. "Oh? Then promise me something."
"Depends."
"Behave. No arrogant comments. And for Arceus sake—don't mention the time I almost arrested you just because you looked suspicious."
He burst out laughing, standing up to grab his bag. "Relax. I'll be a model citizen."
She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.
The train doors hissed open, and the humidity of southern Kanto hit them instantly—a warm, floral breeze carrying the scent of sea salt and blooming gardens.
Enzo stepped onto the platform and stopped dead in his tracks. His memory—fueled by old games and anime from his previous life—had prepared him for a sleepy, rural village. A few houses, a lab, and dirt roads.
Reality was different.
Pallet Town was thriving. It wasn't a city like Cerulean, but it was far from a village. It was a sprawling, pristine town of white stone buildings, paved cobblestone streets, and lush, manicured parks. To the north, dominating the skyline on a massive hill, sat the Oak Research Laboratory, a complex that looked more like a huge university campus than a single house.
"It's… bigger than I expected," Enzo admitted, adjusting his sunglasses.
Lilian chuckled, stepping onto the platform beside him. "People always say that"
She turned to him, hands on her hips. "So, Mr. Tourist. What do you want to see first?"
Enzo shrugged, keeping his hands in his pockets. "You're the local. You decide. You were the one who invited me."
Lilian smirked, tapping her chin. "Okay. I promise that, unlike some people, I won't drag you to ridiculously expensive coffee."
Enzo laughed, remembering their time in Cerulean. "Touché."
They began to walk. As they moved through the streets, Enzo noticed the way people looked at Lilian. It wasn't just polite nods; it was genuine warmth. Shopkeepers waved from their windows, an old man walking a Growlithe stopped to shake her hand, and a group of students bowed respectfully.
"Welcome back, Lilian!" "Good to see you, dear!" "Say hello to the Sheriff for us!"
"Popular," Enzo noted.
Lilian explained, blushing slightly. "Well... my aunt is basically the mayor and the police force combined. Her reputation spills over."
They passed a bustling square with beautiful, crystal-clear fountains. The atmosphere was idyllic. Couples walked hand-in-hand, and a group of children was chasing a Poliwag near the water.
Enzo scanned the crowd, his eyes hidden behind the bucket hat. Suddenly, his heart skipped a beat.
In the middle of the playground, a loud, boisterous laugh cut through the air. A boy with spiky brown hair was standing on a park bench, commanding a group of other kids with natural arrogance. Blue Oak.
Next to him, laughing along but keeping the peace, was a girl with long brown hair and a white hat. Leaf.
But Enzo's gaze didn't linger on them. It drifted to the edge of the sandbox. Sitting alone, away from the noise, adjusting a red cap over his eyes, was a quiet, raven-haired boy. He was watching the others, not with sadness, but with a silent, intense observation.
Red.
Enzo felt a cold shiver run down his spine. The silent legend.
If Red is here… Enzo thought, then Proton must be close.
He quickly scanned the perimeter—rooftops, alleyways, shadows. Nothing. He forced himself to look away. Staring at a child would look suspicious, especially for a celebrity in disguise.
"Enzo?" Lilian asked, noticing he had stopped. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah," Enzo lied smoothly, turning back to her. "Just… admiring the architecture. It's peaceful here."
He glanced back one last time at the boy in the red hat before they turned the corner.
Enjoy the peace while you can, kid.
As they continued walking toward a row of famous bakeries, the conversation shifted from sightseeing.
"So," Lilian started, looking at him sideways. "The final. Everyone is talking about it. The betting odds are… not in your favor."
"They rarely are," Enzo replied dryly.
"Steven Stone hasn't lost a single official match this season," Lilian pressed, her voice laced with concern. "His Metagross is a fortress. They say nothing u have can scratch it. Do you… actually think you can win?"
Enzo stopped walking. He looked at her, and even through the sunglasses, Lilian could feel the intensity of his gaze.
"Honestly?" Enzo said. "I'm more confident about this match than I was against Bea."
Lilian blinked, surprised. "Really?"
He smirked, a dangerous edge to his smile. "If I use Houndoom… I have the perfect counter. Fire melts steel, Lilian. The only thing that worries me is the rest of his team, those are the wild cards."
Lilian stared at him. Most trainers would be shaking at the thought of facing the Hoenn prodigy. Enzo was dissecting him like a puzzle.
"You're crazy," she whispered, but she was smiling. "But I guess that's why you made it this far."
"Crazy works," Enzo quipped. "Now, didn't you promise me some cheap local food?"
She laughed and punched his Sholder
As they walked past the pristine white fences of the residential district, Enzo adjusted his sunglasses, looking around.
"This town is huge," he commented, gesturing to the upscale housing. "With this kind of population and prestige, I'm surprised it doesn't have a Gym. It could easily support one."
Lilian shook her head immediately. "No Gyms. Professor Oak is strictly against it. He says Gyms bring competitiveness and aggression. He wants Pallet Town to be a sanctuary for research and Pokémon progress. A fair neutral ground for science."
Enzo nodded, humming in agreement.
Internally, he scoffed. Fair? He knew exactly how the academic world worked, especially here. Hundreds of researchers toiled away in that massive lab on the hill, while Samuel Oak took all the credit for every discovery. It wasn't a sanctuary; it was a factory of prestige for one man. But he kept that thought locked away.
He took the opportunity to dig deeper. "So, what's your honest take on him? The great Professor Oak."
Lilian slowed her pace, thinking about it. "He is... complicated," she admitted. "I don't know him personally, obviously, but he is undeniably the most important figure in Kanto. He's a former Champion, an incredible trainer, and the father of modern Pokémon research. We owe him a lot for helping humans, and Pokémon understand each other."
She stopped walking for a second, checking her surroundings to make sure no locals were close enough to hear. She leaned in closer to Enzo, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper.
"But... I've always thought he had one major flaw."
Enzo raised an eyebrow behind his sunglasses. "Which is?"
"He's... a womanizer," Lilian whispered, looking slightly scandalized just saying it. "Please don't tell anyone I said this, but it's an open secret in Pallet Town. He has... many younger lady friends here. Because of his power and status, everyone turns a blind eye to it, but it's the truth."
Enzo feigned shock, placing a hand on his chest. "No way. The grandfather of research? A Playboy?"
"I'm serious!" Lilian insisted. "It's the one thing that ruins his image for me."
Internally, Enzo's expression was cold and knowing. I know, Lilian. I know way more than you do.
He knew exactly who one of those "lady friends" was. Red's mother.
It was the dirty secret that fueled the dynamic between the children he had just seen in the park. That was the reason Blue bullied Red so relentlessly, and that was why Red was so withdrawn, so silent. He wasn't just shy; he was living under the shame of a secret the whole town knew but refused to speak about.
"Well," Enzo said aloud, masking his thoughts with a casual shrug. "Genius often comes with... eccentricities."
They continued walking until they arrived at a small, neat building with the blue star of the Kanto Police Force. The Pallet Town Station.
"Wait here just a second," Lilian said, stopping to check her reflection in the glass door. She smoothed a stray lock of teal hair, her expression tight. "I'm just going to call my aunt first. I... I haven't seen her in a while, so I'm a bit anxious."
She glanced back at him, looking for reassurance, a nervous smile on her lips. "You know how it is. Family pressure."
Enzo leaned against the brick wall, checking his fingernails with absolute casualness. "Actually, I don't," he replied, his voice light and conversational, as if discussing the weather. "I don't know a single member of my biological family. Total stranger to the concept."
Lilian froze.
Her hand, halfway to the door handle, stopped in mid-air. She stared at his reflection in the glass. Then she turned around slowly, her face contorted in a mixture of horror, pity, and social panic. Her brain seemed to short-circuit.
She opened her mouth to apologize. Closed it. Opened it again. "I— Uh. Oh. That's... I mean... I didn't... Is that...?"
She looked like she wanted to dig a hole in the concrete and bury herself.
Enzo burst out laughing. It wasn't a bitter laugh; he was genuinely amused by her complete malfunction.
"Lilian, breathe," he teased, shaking his head.
"Go ahead," Enzo said, leaning against the wall. "Take your time."
Lilian took a deep breath and reached for the door handle.
"Where do you think you're going, young lady?"
Lilian froze. The voice came from behind them. She turned around, and her face lit up. Standing on the sidewalk, arms crossed with an air of absolute authority, was a woman who looked exactly like Lilian, but with harder lines around her eyes and a uniform that looked like it had seen war.
"Auntie!"
Lilian abandoned all decorum. She ran and hugged the older woman tightly. The Sheriff of Pallet Town softened instantly, hugging her niece back.
"Look at you," the aunt said, pulling back to inspect her. "You look good. Cerulean, treating you well?"
"It's great," Lilian beamed. "I've handled so many cases, Auntie. Robberies, disputes... I even helped with crowd control at the Gym Challenge. My arrest record is perfect. I feel like I'm really making a difference."
The aunt nodded, a proud smile on her face. "That's a Jenny for you. Good work."
Then, her sharp gaze shifted past Lilian's shoulder. She looked directly at Enzo. Enzo straightened up. He was wearing the bucket hat low, the mask covering his face, and the varsity jacket. He looked like any other anonymous trainer.
"Oh! Auntie, let me introduce you to my friend—" Lilian started.
"No need," the Sheriff interrupted, waving a hand. Her eyes locked onto Enzo's with a knowing glint. "I know exactly who he is."
Enzo blinked. How? He was fully disguised. Was she just that good? It was unsettling.
Recovering quickly, Enzo bowed politely. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Sheriff. Your niece speaks very highly of you."
"And I've seen your battles," the Sheriff replied, her tone professional but not unfriendly. "Impressive work in the tournament. You have a ruthless style. I like it."
She looked between the two of them. "If you need anything while you are in Pallet, my door is open. It's good to see Lilian with... company. She tends to isolate herself."
Enzo smiled under his mask. "Thank you. Your town is beautiful. I can see why she loves it."
The Sheriff seemed pleased. She checked her watch. "Listen, I'm getting off shift early today. Why don't you two come over for dinner? I can cook something, unless you have other plans."
Lilian blushed, looking at Enzo uncertainly, clearly not knowing if he wanted to spend his evening with her alone.
Enzo didn't hesitate. "We would be honored. Thank you."
"Perfect. See you at 19:30," the Sheriff said.
She turned and walked into the station.
Enzo watched her go. I know you leave early today, he thought coldly. Proton has been tracking your schedule for days…
"I want to show you one last place," Lilian said as the afternoon sun began to dip toward the horizon. "It's special to me."
She led him to a small, old-fashioned bakery on the edge of town. The elderly woman behind the counter greeted Lilian with a kiss on the cheek, clearly knowing her since she was a child. Lilian bought two small cakes in paper bags.
"Follow me," she said.
They walked up a gentle slope to a secluded grassy hill overlooking the town. It was quiet here, away from the bustling streets. From this vantage point, you could see the red roofs of Pallet Town and, beyond them, the glittering ocean.
They sat on the grass. Lilian handed him a cake.
"This is it," she said softly, looking at the view. "When I was younger... I didn't have many friends. After school, I would buy a cake and come up here. I'd just sit, eat, and watch the other kids play down there. It calmed me down."
Enzo took a bite. It wasn't very sweet, but it was good. "It's a nice spot," he admitted. "Its peaceful, thank you for inviting me and showing me the town."
"Thanks for coming with me," Lilian whispered. She hesitated, then leaned her head on his shoulder.
For a moment, there was only the sound of the wind and the warmth of the setting sun.
Then, Enzo saw it.
A black speck appeared against the orange glow of the sun. It was small at first, like a glitch in the perfect picture. But it grew larger. And larger.
Lilian squinted against the light. "What is that?"
The speck resolved into a shape.
A man, riding atop a Fearow, soaring directly over the restricted airspace of Pallet Town.
As he got closer, the details became clear. He wasn't wearing normal trainer clothes. He was clad in a striking cobalt-blue tactical uniform, complete with a bandana and a vest. Even from this distance, the white stylized 'A' in the shape of a wave—the infamous symbol of Team Aqua—was clearly visible on his chest.
"Hey!" Lilian sat up straight, her police instincts flaring. "It is illegal to fly over residential zones at that altitude! That uniform..."
Enzo watched the figure, his face completely blank. "Maybe he's lost?" he suggested, feigning ignorance.
The figure on the Fearow didn't land. He hovered directly over the town square. He raised a megaphone to his mouth. A distorted, amplified voice boomed across the entire valley, shattering the peace.
"PEOPLE OF PALLET TOWN!"
The voice echoed off the white buildings. Below, people stopped walking. Children stopped playing in the park.
"FOR TOO LONG, YOU HAVE BUILT YOUR PARADISE ON STOLEN LAND! THIS VALLEY BELONGS TO THE OCEAN! YOU POLLUTE THE GIFT OF THE GREAT KYOGRE WITH YOUR SCIENCE AND ARROGANCE!"
Lilian stood up, hand going to her belt where her Poké Balls usually were. "What the hell is he talking about? Team Aqua in Kanto? Is he crazy?"
"TODAY, THE SEA COMES TO COLLECT ITS DEBT! FOR TEAM AQUA!"
The man on the Fearow pulled out a strange, bulky gun. He aimed it straight up into the sky.
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
It wasn't just a few shots. A rapid-fire stream of projectiles shot out of the launcher, arcing high into the air like a deadly firework display. More than thirty blue spheres hung in the apex of their flight.
Then, they all opened at once.
White light exploded from the sky, expanding rapidly. Too rapidly. The light grew massive, blotting out the sun entirely.
Enzo stood up slowly, brushing the grass from his pants.
The shadow fell over them. It wasn't just a cloud; it was an eclipse. The entire town of Pallet was suddenly plunged into twilight darkness.
Lilian looked up, her eyes widening in absolute horror as she realized the scale of what was happening.
They weren't clouds. They were Wailords. Over thirty massive whales, summoned hundreds of meters in the air, directly above the town center.
The silence before the fall was heavy, broken only by the terrifying, low groan of thirty immense creatures.
Gravity took hold.
Enzo didn't look up. He didn't watch the apocalypse he had orchestrated. He grabbed her arm with a grip of iron.
"Lilian," he shouted over the roar of displacing air. "MOVE!"