The moment Violet stepped into the left tunnel, she knew something was off.
Not immediately.
Not something obvious.
But enough.
The air felt… wrong.
Different from the main path.
Heavier. Colder.
She exhaled slowly, rolling her shoulders as she walked deeper into the cave.
"Weepinbell, stay close," she said.
The Pokémon swayed beside her, vines slightly raised.
"Toxicroak, take point."
The frog-like Pokémon stepped ahead, its posture tense, eyes scanning the darkness.
Unlike Alex
Violet didn't rush.
She didn't have a big team and knew that if she tried to rush in she could die
So she was cautious
And experienced enough to trust her instincts.
Every step echoed.
Every shadow seemed to move just a little too much.
"…I don't like this place," she muttered.
Still
She kept going.
A few wild Pokémon appeared along the way.
Zubat.
Geodude.
Nothing special.
Nothing dangerous.
Toxicroak handled them easily, striking fast and efficiently, while Weepinbell assisted from behind.
But the deeper she went
The quieter it got.
Too quiet.
Violet stopped.
"…That's not normal."
Even caves had noise.
Water.
Wings.
Movement.
But this?
Nothing.
She narrowed her eyes.
"Toxicroak. Stay alert."
A sound.
Soft.
Behind her.
Violet turned instantly
Just in time to see a shadow move.
Fast.
"Toxicroak,NOW!"
Toxicroak reacted without hesitation, throwing a punch into the darkness.
A Pokémon appeared mid-impact
A Sneasel.
It hissed, jumping back with unnatural agility.
"…Fast," Violet muttered.
The Sneasel circled them, its claws glinting.
"Don't chase it," she said calmly. "It's trying to bait us."
The Sneasel vanished again.
Then reappeared—
From above.
"Poison Jab!"
Toxicroak leaped upward, intercepting it mid-air.
The hit landed clean.
The Sneasel crashed to the ground, injured but not defeated.
Violet's eyes sharpened.
"…You're not bad."
She reached for a Poké Ball.
"Weepinbell, bind it!"
Vines shot forward, wrapping tightly around the Sneasel before it could escape.
"Toxicroak, hold it in place."
Toxicroak pinned it down, preventing any movement.
The Sneasel struggled, hissing, eyes full of defiance.
Violet smirked slightly.
"Yeah… you'll do."
She threw the Poké Ball.
It hit.
Opened.
Light consumed the Sneasel.
The ball fell to the ground.
Shake.
Once.
Twice.
Three times
Click.
Silence.
Violet walked forward, picking it up.
"…Got you."
She clipped the Poké Ball to her belt.
A new addition.
But then.
A sound.
Distant.
A roar.
Violet froze.
"…That's not normal."
Another sound followed.
Echoing through the cave.
Running.
Fast.
Her eyes sharpened instantly.
"…Alex."
She didn't hesitate.
She turned and ran.
Back through the tunnel.
Fast.
Her Pokémon followed closely behind.
The sounds grew louder.
Closer.
More desperate.
And then.
She reached the intersection.
And saw him.
Alex.
Running toward her.
Covered in blood.
Her eyes widened instantly.
"Alex?!"
Her gaze dropped to his side.
The wound.
Deep.
Dangerous.
"What the hell happened to you?!"