We continued to walk along the rocky path leading to Mt. Moon, the late morning sun warm and gentle on my face.
My heart felt light and fluttery, filled with hazy memories of the past: tiny Clefairy dancing in soft moonlight deep inside hidden caves.
This was it.
The place I had remembered since I was five, the one I had dreamed about for so long.
The quiet wonder I had carried with me across two whole lives.
Each step brought me closer, and a quiet, happy smile tugged at my lips.
Lopunny walked on my left, ears swaying softly. She glanced at me with curious eyes and let out a gentle "Lop?"
Meowscarada padded on my right, tail flicking. She looked up too, giving a low, amused "Meow," as if asking why I was suddenly so excited.
I just smiled wider. They sensed my happiness but did not know the old memories behind it.
Their quiet company made the moment even warmer.
This route was different from what most people normally took.
The thick forest had not appeared yet. Instead, wide open cliffs stretched out on both sides, with huge boulders scattered everywhere.
I could not wait to start my research.
Mt. Moon was full of wonders: glowing Moon Stones, cheerful Clefairy, graceful Clefable. Even little Zubat and Paras made their homes deep inside the twisting caves.
The paths were so winding and the caves so dark and quiet that hardly anyone ever came here.
It felt like a secret world, peaceful and waiting just for me.
My chest swelled with pure, childlike wonder.
I imagined watching a Clefairy up close, its pink cheeks glowing softly.
Finding a smooth, shining Moon Stone of my own.
Exploring every shadowy corner of that mysterious mountain.
A little shiver of impatience ran through me.
This was the perfect spot, far from crowds, quiet for days and days, so I could research as long as I wanted, completely undisturbed.
As we walked closer to Mt. Moon, the peaceful quiet suddenly broke.
A sharp, angry voice rang out from just ahead.
"What are you doing? Let go of me! I don't know anything!"
Then a woman's voice replied, cold and full of mockery.
"So you won't cooperate?"
Lopunny, walking right beside me, froze. She gently took my hand in her soft paw and pulled me to stop.
Her eyes narrowed toward the voices. A low, worried "Lop..." came from deep in her throat, like a soft warning.
I knew immediately. Something bad was happening up there.
If it was a wild Pokémon, Lopunny and Meowscarada could have dealt with it without any problem.
But these were clearly people. Their voices sounded angry and mean. Threatening.
My heart began to beat faster, thump-thump in my ears.
On my other side, Meowscarada stiffened too. Her ears stood straight up, her body tense and alert.
She let out a low, serious "Meow..."
We all stood still for a few moments, just listening. My curiosity tugged at me, but caution kept my feet planted.
I looked at my two Pokémon.
Their eyes were sharp and protective. Seeing them ready to keep me safe made a little courage bloom inside me.
Very quietly, we started moving forward again.
We slipped from one bush to the next, crouching low behind to stay hidden.
With every careful step, my pulse raced quicker. I needed to know what was going on.
Lopunny stayed close on my left, her long ears turning this way and that to catch every sound.
Meowscarada kept pace on my right, moving silently, eyes scanning ahead.
We moved as one. A small, quiet team. Our hearts all beating in the same nervous rhythm.
The need to understand pushed most of the fear away. Whatever was happening, I had to see it for myself
Finally, we reached a spot where we could see clearly.
There, parked off the path in a small clearing, stood two black jeeps.
The bold red "R" on their doors and hoods stood out sharply against the dark paint.
Team Rocket.
I felt a sharp shock run through me. I had seen them on screens countless times before, but this was real.
Meeting them in person hit much harder than I thought it would. It was not my first brush with danger in this life, and I had even crossed paths with Team Rocket once before, yet something deep inside screamed not to mess with them.
Last time I had slipped away unnoticed, still young, too innocent to fully grasp what real danger meant.
But now, after everything with the poachers, I understood.
My instinct told me clearly: these people were bad news.
Real trouble.
My breath caught for a moment. Danger was right here.
Still, I forced myself to stay calm, like I always did in tough spots. My heart raced, but I kept it under control.
The jeeps looked tough and ready.
Six people stood nearby, all in black uniforms.
Four men wore round black caps pulled low, arms crossed, standing guard without a word.
The two women had no caps. One had long pink hair flowing loose, the other shoulder-length purple hair.
In the end stood a man in a white lab coat. His hands were tied behind his back. He looked like a professor, face tight with anger and defiance.
He was clearly in trouble, but he refused to look scared.
The purple-haired woman leaned in close to him.
"So you won't talk?"
The pink-haired one watched with a small, smug smile, arms folded.
The men held their positions.
I crouched lower behind the bush, heart beating a bit faster but still under control.
Lopunny's paw rested gently on my arm. Meowscarada's tail brushed my side, calm and reassuring.
This was no longer just my peaceful trip.
Something bad was happening, and someone needed help.
The purple-haired woman reached to her belt and pulled out a sleek black Poké Ball.
I had never seen one like it before.
Not in my past-life memories, at least.
Or I could be wrong; those memories were not always clear.
But the ball was definitely darker than any standard ball I remembered recently.
A chill crept up my spine. Was this some kind of special ball? One made to hold Pokémon against their will? The thought tightened my chest.
She tossed it forward with a casual flick.
A burst of dark red light flashed, and a Ralts appeared.
It was small and delicate, its body a pure, soft white that seemed to glow faintly in the sunlight.
Pale pink touched only its bowl-shaped head and the tiny red horn, giving it an ethereal, dreamy look.
A shiny Ralts. Rare. Beautiful.
For one heartbeat, pure awe filled me. My eyes widened.
It was perfect.
I had been in this world for years now, traveling in forests, meeting countless Pokémon, yet I had never seen a shiny one before. Not once.
This little Ralts was the first.
My breath stilled. For that single moment, everything else faded.
But then I saw the collar.
A thin black band circled its neck, cold metal with small red lights blinking steadily. It looked cruel against that soft white skin.
Everything about the sight felt wrong. Deeply, horribly wrong.
The little Ralts stood perfectly still, head lowered. No voice, no shy movement. Just emptiness.
A heavy sadness washed over me. It was not my own feeling. It came straight from the Ralts, faint and muffled, like a quiet cry for help reaching us.
Its pain slipped into my chest. Dull. Constant. Truly heartbreaking.
Anger rose in my throat. Deep pity pressed hard on my heart.
I wanted to run to it. Free it. Wrap it in my arms and make the pain stop.
Meowscarada's fur stood up along her back. Her claws came out, ready. She was furious for the little one.
Lopunny's long ears drooped sadly. Her paws clenched tight. A soft, sorrowful "Lopun…" escaped her, almost a whisper.
We all felt it now. The Ralts was suffering. Its gentle heart was trapped, crying out in silent agony.
My Pokémon pressed closer to me. Their anger and sadness mirrored mine.
We were together in this.
In our minds, the decision was already made. We would help this Ralts. No question.
But we needed a plan. We needed to understand exactly what was happening.
So we stayed hidden behind the bushes, watching quietly, breathing slow and steady.
For now, we waited. Patient. Ready.
The clearing stayed tense, the Ralts still suffering in silence.
But it would not stay that way for long.
We promised each other.
================
Happy New Year 🎊!
As we step into 2026, I want to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart. Your comments, power stones, and support on Patreon, no matter how big or small, have kept me motivated through every chapter, every late night, and every moment of doubt.
You've made this journey truly special, and I'm so grateful to have you all along for the ride.
Here's to a new year filled with more stories, more adventures, more emotions, and yes, more smut.
May 2026 bring you happiness, health, success, and all the good things you deserve.
Let's make this year unforgettable, together.
Happy New Year! 🥂❤️
Also, I've started a lot of new novels lately, so focusing on just one might not always be possible. But I have no intention of dropping anything. I'll keep writing and writing as long as you guys continue to support me. Thank you so much.