Vol. I, Part 3: Chapter 25

  The air outside crackled with invisible energy. Rosa could feel the static all over her body, her hairs standing at attention. Hilda parked the truck right behind Skyla’s, the opening to Chargestone Cave right in front of their view.

  The cave entrance was mesmerizing. Sparks danced along the inner walls, creating a strobe-light effect that illuminated the tunnel deep into the mountain.

  “It looks… pretty,” Hilda murmured, peering over the steering wheel into the glowing abyss.

  “It’s kind of cool,” Hilbert replied, adjusting himself in the middle seat to get a better view. “Almost like we aren’t going into a dangerous death pit.”

  “Almost,” Hilda repeated under her breath.

  Rosa turned to her friends, shaking off the hypnotic pull of the light. “C’mon, let’s get moving.”

  She slid out of the passenger seat, her boots crunching on the gravel. Up ahead, the lead truck was already unloading. Rosa’s eyes immediately darted to Nate. He was climbing out from the passenger’s side, moving with a noticeable stiffness. Rosa saw the way he braced his hand against the doorframe.

  He’s trying to hide it.

  The team hunched over Bianca who was holding a printed-out Ranger’s map of the cave. Cheren shielded the paper with his jacket from the falling rain. Castform, fully transformed into its Rainy Form, hovered over their heads like a small storm cloud.

  “The Emolga can be released outside the cave. Their natural habitat is up in the trees,” Bianca stated. “The Tynamo, however, will need a sufficient watersource.”

  “Have you identified a suitable location?” Gabby asked.

  “Right here,” she pointed over the map, Gabby and Skyla leaning in to read the fading ink. “A stream, just a short hike from where we can release the Joltik.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Skyla acknowledged. “Smart that you brought that old map. Any digital one would’ve fried in the Dead Zone.”

  Bianca let out a bright blush. “Just being prepared. As always!”

  “Let’s get the Emolga out first,” Ms. Gabby instructed, her voice calm and authoritative.

  The Emolga cages were situated at the back of Hilda’s truck. Hilbert launched himself into the truck bed, boots thudding against the metal, and handed the first cage down to Hilda.

  “You take good care of her, okay? She’s had a long week.” he said, passing the cage along.

  Hilda frowned, taking the weight. “How do you know it’s a she?”

  “I was talking to Emolga.”

  Hilda walked off, shaking her head. “Weirdo.”

  Rosa grabbed the next cage from Hilbert. Through the mesh, she saw the frightened rodent lying flat on its belly, wings sprawled out in submission.

  “It’s okay. You’ll be home soon,” Rosa murmured, clutching the cage to her chest.

  Hilbert jumped out of the bed, the final Emolga cage in his hands.

  “Take them to the tree line,” Bianca instructed Rosa. “They’ll find their way home from there.”

  “Alright, we’ll be right back,” Rosa said.

  The three walked to the edge of the gravel clearing, where the static-charged air met the dense, evergreen forest.

  “Right here is good?” Hilda asked. She held the cage close, the Emolga inside pressed against the bars nearest to Hilda’s body.

  Rosa could see Hilda’s reluctance, but she nodded. “Yeah, here.”

  Rosa set her cage on the wet grass and unlatched the door. The Emolga inside made a happy squeak and charged out. Hilbert released his as well, and the two rodents met with a chittering embrace.

  They took one last look at the Trainers, gave an appreciative nod, and spread their yellow membrane wings to catch an updraft. Within seconds, they glided effortlessly, disappearing into the high branches.

  Hilda crouched down, placing her cage on a flat rock. She unlatched the door and stepped back.

  “Go on,” she said softly. “You’re free. Go find your friends.”

  The Emolga inside didn't move. It sat perfectly still, its large eyes tracking Hilda’s face. It clutched its tail, completely ignoring the open door.

  “What’s the hold-up?” Hilbert asked, leaning over Hilda’s shoulder.

  “I don’t know.” Hilda whispered. She knelt, extending a hand toward the open door. “Emolga?”

  The Pokémon twitched its nose. Slowly, it cleared the cage. But instead of turning toward the forest, it hopped straight onto Hilda’s arm, climbed her denim jacket, and settled right on her shoulder, burying its face into her neck with a soft squeak.

  Hilda froze, her eyes widening. She slowly reached up, cupping the small Pokémon in her hands. Emolga nuzzled into her palm.

  “Emolga, I’ll miss you too. But your friends are waiting for you.”

  Rosa looked up. She couldn’t see the other two Emolga, but she felt their eyes watching from the branches.

  Emolga barked in protest. It refused to leave.

  “Why won’t it go?”

  “Because she’s smart,” Hilbert said. He bumped his elbow gently against hers. “Emolga knows a good thing when she sees it, Da. She feels safe with you.”

  Hilda stared blankly into Emolga.

  “How do you know it's a she?” Hilda asked again, her voice thick with emotion.

  “Are you kidding? Look at that face!” Hilbert pointed a finger at the rodent. “She looks just like you with that stubborn pout. It’s uncanny.”

  Emolga sat in the palm of Hilda’s hands. Her cheeks puffed out and her frown was deep. Rosa slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh. The resemblance was actually terrifyingly accurate.

  “Shut up, Bert,” Hilda whispered. Her face lit up with a smile.

  She looked at Emolga, her eyes glistening. She blinked rapidly, fighting back tears. “You really want to stay with me? After everything?”

  Emolga gave a decisive, happy bark.

  “I think that’s a yes,” Rosa smiled, watching the scene with a warm heart.

  Sniffling, Hilda unclipped an empty Poké Ball. “Okay then. If you’re sure.”

  She barely tapped the center button against Emolga’s forehead. The red energy engulfed it, pulling it into the safety of the sphere.

  Shake. Shake. Shake. Click.

  Emolga was hers.

  “You’re crying,” Hilbert stated matter-of-factly, leaning in to inspect her face.

  “I am not!” Hilda shot back, wiping her eyes furiously with her sleeve. “It's the static! It’s making my eyes water.”

  “Right. The static,” Hilbert laughed loudly. “You’re such a softie, Da.”

  Hilda reared her arm back to strike him. Hilbert flinched, bracing for the impact.

  Instead, she dropped her hand. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his shoulder for a second.

  Hilbert froze, his arms hovering uncertainly. “Uh… What’s this one for?” he asked, sounding as if he’d done something terribly wrong.

  “Nothing. I just feel like it,” Hilda mumbled into his jacket.

  She pulled away. Before Hilbert could react, Hilda slapped the brim of his hat, knocking it down over his eyes.

  “Ow!”

  “Jerk!”

  She grinned and marched back toward the trucks with Emolga’s Poké Ball clutched tightly in her hand.

  Rosa watched the exchange, shaking her head as she fell in step behind them.

  I’ll never understand those two.

  The team reconvened by the idling trucks. The heavy lifting had begun. Skyla was atop the bed of a truck, handing down crates of Joltik to Bianca, while Gabby and Cheren managed the Klink and Klang cages. But it was Hugh who drew Rosa’s eye.

  He and Nate were hoisting the heavy water tank containing the Tynamo. Water sloshed violently as they lifted. Hugh grunted, his biceps straining, but the tank dipped dangerously toward Nate.

  Rosa immediately ran to Nate’s side, almost slamming into him as she grabbed the bottom corner of the tank.

  “Nate! Careful!” Rosa scolded, taking the weight.

  Nate grunted. Together, they managed to regain control, settling the container onto the dolly with a wet thud.

  Once the tank was situated, Rosa turned to Nate, breathing heavily. “What did I say about pushing yourself?”

  “I’m sorry,” Nate huffed, instinctively grabbing his side. “I thought I could.”

  “This is what I meant about your ribs being compromised,” Rosa reminded him, her voice low. She wasn’t upset, but worry fluttered in her chest. “You can’t be lifting heavy things like that.”

  Nate nodded. His eyes turned to the ground, avoiding her gaze.

  C’mon, Nate. Please… Listen to me.

  “Nate, your side is still hurting?” Hugh asked, appearing next to Rosa, wiping his hands on his pants.

  “Yeah.”

  “Why didn’t you say so?”

  “I didn’t want to let you down, man.” Nate looked up, his eyes focused on Hugh.

  “Don't worry about me. If Rosa says don’t push yourself, listen to her.”

  “Right. Sorry,” he said quickly.

  Rosa inhaled a short breath. She wanted to say “it’s fine,” but she knew it wasn’t. Before she had a chance to respond, Nate walked away toward the Klink dolly.

  “That kid worries me. A lot,” Hugh said, crossing his arms.

  “Hugh,” Rosa turned to him. “Please look out for him. I’m worried he might hurt himself more.”

  Hugh dipped his chin. “I will. Nate’s tough, but he has his limits.”

  At the cave entrance, Ms. Gabby stood near the maw staring into the cavern as if crossing the threshold would transport her into another world. She inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Take the Joltik out of their cages,” she said, addressing the team. “They’re small enough to carry by hand to the release point.”

  Rosa's skin shuddered. She was going to have to carry a prickly, little Bug-type into that dreadful cave?

  I want to go home.

  They released the Joltik, fourteen in total. Hilbert carried four: two in his hands, one clinging to his jacket, and the overly affectionate Joltik perched on his hat like a crown. Rosa scooped one up gently, holding the yellow arachnid away from her face. The little bug kicked off a few microscopic hairs that drifted straight up her nose. A tiny zap fired in her sinus, making her eyes water instantly.

  “Here, give it to me,” Hilda offered, holding out a hand.

  “I’m fine,” Rosa lied, her face scrunching against a sneeze.

  “You’re shaking harder than the bug, Rosa.” Hilda swooped the Joltik into her hand, freeing Rosa from the creepy-crawly.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  “Thanks,” Rosa sniffled, wiping her nose with her sleeve.

  Hilda laughed. “You’re such a princess.”

  With the army of Joltik in hand, Hugh pushing the water tank, and Nate and Cheren managing the gear Pokémon, the group crossed into the cavern.

  Inside, the walls buzzed like a downed power line. Stones floated in the air, suspended by the cave’s natural magnetism.

  “Are we good to release the gear-heads here?” Skyla asked Bianca, stopping where the natural light faded into the artificial blue glow.

  “Hold on,” Bianca said, stepping forward. She pulled a bulky, analog EMF meter from her bag and held it toward the floating stones. The physical needle twitched wildly before settling in the green zone. She checked the reading against a folded up data sheet.

  “Ambient electromagnetism is holding steady,” she said with a cheerful smile. “We’re clear to release.”

  Nate and Cheren opened the cages. The Klink and Klang drifted towards several floating stones. As soon as they made contact, their rotation speed doubled. They locked onto the magnetic stones, spinning happily.

  “They like it,” Bianca smiled, watching a Klang interact with a floating boulder. “It’s like a playground for them.”

  “It’s a charging station,” Ms. Gabby corrected clinically. She looked farther down the tunnel, blue sparks illuminating the path.

  Bianca put away her EMF meter and checked the Ranger map again. “There are a few stones with electric potential up ahead. We should release the Joltik next.”

  They walked deeper until they were met with blue stones, crackling with raw energy. As they approached, the Joltik leaped from the Trainers’ hands, crawling eagerly toward the source. They began clicking their mandibles, feasting on the electromagnetic radiation.

  “Aww, they’re so cute!” Bianca beamed at the cluster of yellow spiders.

  A single Joltik remained behind.

  “Go ahead, buddy.” Hilbert sat next to it, scratching the fuzzy Pokémon with a finger.

  The Joltik let out a soft, static-filled sigh. It turned, crawled up Hilbert’s arm, and resumed its throne on top of his hat, clutching tight.

  Hilbert stood up, smiling. “Guess you’re not hungry, are you?”

  “I don’t think Joltik wants to leave you, Bert,” Hilda said thoughtfully.

  Hilbert let out a soft chuckle. “Is that right, buddy? Want to tag along with me?”

  Joltik clicked its mandibles, humming a static-filled tune.

  “How cute. Now you’re just like Emolga and me,” Hilda said, hands on her hips.

  “Yeah, except I’m not going to start crying!” Hilbert teased.

  Hilda slapped his arm as he laughed joyfully.

  “Now we need to release the Tynamo,” Ms. Gabby interrupted. “Where’s the stream?”

  “Shouldn’t be more than a ten-minute hike,” Bianca answered, pointing down a branching corridor.

  “Then let’s not waste any time. The sooner we drop off the Pokémon, the sooner we can leave.”

  Skyla stared down Gabby, crossing her arms. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

  “What?” Gabby retorted, her posture instantly stiffening.

  “I don’t know. Maybe the entire reason we flew into the Dead Zone in the first place? We are still here to investigate the anomaly.”

  Gabby shot her a stern look. “And where exactly do you propose we start? This cavern system is massive. We can’t just go wandering off into the dark looking for problems with inexperienced students in tow.”

  “I’m not wandering off,” Skyla shot back, her voice tightening with frustration. “We start at the Chargestone Quarry. It contains the densest cluster of charged stones in the mountain. If something happened to the cave’s electromagnetism, the quarry would be ground zero.”

  “Our main objective is to release these Pokémon back into their habitat,” Gabby countered, stepping closer. “Any anomalies we encounter along the way will be documented and reported to the Rangers. My priority is keeping everyone safe.”

  “And my priority is making sure my airspace doesn't become a permanent hazard zone!” Skyla snapped, gesturing sharply to the sparking rocks around them. “This is my region, Gabriella. I’m not turning my back on it just because you're suddenly terrified of taking a risk.”

  “Skyla,” Gabby said, unnervingly calm. “They’re kids. Of course I’m not willing to take the risk.”

  Rosa shared a tense glance with Nate.

  She really doesn’t want us here.

  “Fine,” Skyla crossed her arms. “After we release the Tynamo, you can take the kids and leave. But I’m staying until I find out exactly what’s going on.”

  Gabby held her ground for a long moment. Finally, she let out a frustrated sigh. She looked at Castform, who was happily gliding beside her head, completely oblivious to the hostility. Her expression softened into a reluctant concession.

  Gabby turned to Bianca. “Do you see the quarry on the map?”

  Bianca flipped through the pages of the map, scanning with a meticulous eye. “There,” she pointed to the parchment, showing Gabby the location. “Not far from the drop-off point.”

  Gabby took a deep breath. “Very well. We drop off the cargo, we investigate, we leave.”

  Skyla didn’t wait. She pressed on, deeper into the blue gloom.

  Rosa felt the tension through the static-filled air. She noticed Gabby’s face was a mask of internal conflict. Castform, however, floated cheerfully beside Gabby, aweing at the blue sparks dancing above on the ceiling.

  Hilbert leaned closer to Rosa, keeping his voice to a low murmur. “You get the feeling there’s something going on with those two?”

  “Seems like they don’t like each other,” Rosa replied, keeping a wary eye on their guides.

  “Seems like they hate each other.” Hilbert let out a brief chuckle. “That can’t be good for us, right?”

  Rosa felt uneasy. The two adults were supposed to be leading them, yet here they were bickering like rivals.

  “Hey,” Hilda stepped in. “Why’s the robot mad at the plane lady?”

  “I don’t know,” Rosa said, frowning. She thought back to the few interactions she’d witnessed between them. The sharp glares. The thinly veiled insults on the pier.

  They must have some shared history we don’t know about.

  “Maybe Bianca knows something,” Rosa decided.

  Hilda glanced over her shoulder. “Psst! Hey, Blondie. Over here.”

  Bianca quickened her pace, tip-toeing up to the trio. “Hey guys, what’s up?”

  “What’s the deal with the two redheads?”

  “Huh?”

  “Ms. Gabby and Skyla,” Rosa clarified.

  “Oh. Them.” Bianca tapped her chin, her expression turning somber. “They actually used to be really good friends. Whenever Skyla flew in to take Professor Juniper’s father around the region for field research, Ms. Gabby would always go with them.”

  “So, why does it seem like they want to rip each other's heads off?” Hilbert asked.

  “Well… I don’t know. They had a falling out, I think. About a year ago.”

  “You think?” Hilda raised an eyebrow.

  “Did they have an argument?” Rosa asked.

  “If they did, it was private. Not something they’d talk about in front of me, anyway,” Bianca added with an uneasy smile.

  Hugh stepped up next to the group, rolling the Tynamo tank along. He was focused on the path ahead, but clearly listening in on the gossip

  “She said Gabby had a ‘change of heart,’” Hugh butted in. “That’s what she told Nate and me in the truck.”

  “What does that mean?” Hilda pressed.

  “Don’t know. Didn’t ask.”

  “Well, you’re no fun,” Hilda scoffed.

  Rosa paused, letting the words sink in.

  Change of heart.

  Her eyes drifted to Castform. The little, grey cloud hummed a happy tune as it drifted slowly in Gabby’s wake.

  Could it be related to Castform?

  “Bianca,” Rosa started, the pieces of the puzzle suddenly locking together in her mind. “How long ago did Castform have its accident?”

  Bianca blinked, calculating the timeline. “Last fall. So… almost a year ago.”

  “Same time Gabby and Skyla stopped talking?”

  Bianca frowned. “Yeah. Seems about right.”

  Rosa looked to Hilda, who gave a shrug.

  “You really think Castform has something to do with their falling out?” Hilbert asked.

  “It’s possible,” Rosa replied.

  As they ventured deeper, the awe-inspiring beauty of the entrance began to fade. The blue light dimmed, swallowed by the crushing weight of the mountain. The smooth path gave way to an uneven terrain.

  “Watch your step,” Skyla called back. Her voice echoed strangely, distorted by the cavern’s acoustics.

  They reached a narrow slope where the floor was loose shale and floating stones hovered inches off the ground. Rosa held Bianca’s hand as they navigated the incline. Hugh and Cheren wrestled the Tynamo tank down the slope, the water sloshing violently. Nate followed closely behind with the empty dolly.

  Careful, Nate.

  “The stream should be right around this corner,” Skyla called.

  They rounded the bend and stopped.

  There was no water. The stream bed was nothing but a layer of dry mud, cracked like old pottery.

  “Where is it?” Bianca whispered, clutching Rosa’s hand.

  “This shouldn’t be dry,” Skyla frowned, kicking the dirt. “Something must be clogging the source.”

  “We can’t release them here,” Bianca said, looking at the Tynamo swimming in the tank. “They’ll die.”

  She let go of Rosa’s hand and flipped through the map. She traced her finger along the contour lines. “According to the elevation lines, the stream leads to a natural basin. We can drop the Tynamo off there.”

  Skyla leaned over Bianca’s shoulder, tapping the spot on the paper map. “The Underground Lake. She’s right.” Skyla turned to Gabby. “It’s further down in the cave. You said our main objective is releasing the Pokémon. I don’t see another option.”

  Gabby stared at the dried-up bed. There was no argument to be made.

  “Are there any other streams we can go to?”

  Skyla shook her head.

  “Lead the way, Skyla.”

  “The quarry should be along the path,” Skyla said, eyeing the map one last time. “We’ll make a stop there.”

  The team pressed on. Skyla brought out her heavy-duty flashlight as the blue sparks became less frequent. The light dimmed, and the eeriness of the cave settled in.

  Rosa continued to hold Bianca’s hand. She felt personally responsible for Bianca. Not because she thought Bianca was weak, but because she had an innocence Rosa wanted to protect.

  “The quarry’s up ahead,” Skyla announced.

  The quarry was there, but the stones were gone. The walls were left with hollow gaps where the stones had once occupied. The floor was littered with dust, only a few stubbornly buried rocks remained, sparking what little energy they had left.

  “Where are the stones?” Rosa asked aloud.

  “Gone,” Cheren said, walking up to the wall. He ran his hand over the smooth, glassy surface. His eyes widened. “This was cut.”

  “Cut?” Nate asked, stepping up beside him.

  “Laser bored,” Ms. Gabby clarified, her face grim. She scanned the cavern floor, kicking aside a pile of gravel.

  Skyla bent down, rubbing the dirt with her fingers. “Someone came in here with heavy machinery and harvested the entire quarry.”

  Gabby crouched to the floor, swiping a finger through a puddle of thick, viscous sludge pooled near one of the boreholes. She rubbed it between her gloved thumb and forefinger.

  “Coolant,” she said, her voice dropping. “Industrial-grade liquid coolant. Laser boring generates massive amounts of heat. You can’t run machinery like that without a constant cooling cycle.”

  Skyla pointed her light at the floor. A trail of the sludge led away from the wall, disappearing down a dark, sloping tunnel.

  “That leads to the Underground Lake,” Skyla realized. “That’s why the stream is dry. They diverted the water flow to cool their machines.”

  Gabby stood up, wiping her glove on her pants. “Have the rangers reported any authorized mining operations in the cave?”

  Skyla shook her head slowly.

  A chill ran down Rosa’s spine. The ‘weapon’ Gabby had warned them about suddenly felt very real. They weren’t looking for natural anomalies or localized geographical… whatever the hell Cheren said. They were standing in a manufacturing plant.

  Skyla turned back toward the dark tunnel. “The lake is further down. We should get moving.”

  Rosa noted the shift in her demeanor. The playfulness was gone.

  “Gabby,” Skyla said, “guard the rear, please.”

  Ms. Gabby nodded.

  The team re-formed, the mood significantly heavier. The awe of the sparkling cavern had been entirely stripped away, replaced by the crushing reality of the hollowed-out mountain.

  They hiked in silence. The path sloped downward, steep and slick with condensation. As they descended, Rosa was met with suffocating humidity laced with a thick stench.

  “Ugh,” Hilda gagged, pulling her collar up over her nose. “What is that smell?”

  “Sulfur?” Hugh guessed, coughing as he maneuvered the heavy tank down.

  “No, it’s something worse than sulfur,” Nate replied.

  The stench stung Rosa’s eyes as she inhaled. It reminded her of rot, like compost, only wrong. Sour. Stagnant.

  Skyla smacked the side of her flashlight. The beam flickered, pulsed twice, and then dimmed to a pathetic orange glow.

  “Flashlight is dying,” Skyla announced, tapping the lens. “The magnetic interference is getting stronger. It’s draining the batteries.”

  “Everyone, stay close. Hold the person in front of you if you have to,” Cheren declared.

  They shuffled forward blindly. The sound of water lapping against stone echoed ahead.

  “The Underground Lake,” Ms. Gabby whispered.

  They reached the shoreline. Rosa couldn’t see the water, but she could hear it washing over the rocks. The smell was overpowering here, a thick miasma of decay that made her eyes water.

  “We need light,” Skyla said. “I can barely see the water.”

  “I got it,” Rosa’s voice trembled in the dark. “Blitzle, come on out.”

  The Poké Ball opened with Blitzle materializing. Immediately, the area was bathed in the intermittent glow from the sparks in its mane, just enough to see the water’s edge.

  “Okay, little guys. You’re home,” Hugh grunted. With Cheren’s help he tipped the water tank over the shoreline.

  The Tynamo slid into the dark water.

  But they didn’t swim away.

  The school of Tynamo frantically clustered near the rocky bank, thrashing against the surface. Their bioluminescence flickered erratically. They refused to go deeper, pressing themselves against the mud as if the open water were toxic.

  “Something’s wrong,” Bianca whispered, leaning over the water’s edge. “Why aren’t they swimming?”

  “Look, out there.” Hilbert pointed toward the center of the lake. He grabbed Joltik off of his head and cradled it beneath his jacket.

  Twenty feet out, the water was disturbed. The surface bobbed with floating shapes, covered in the dimly lit cavern.

  “Blitzle,” Rosa commanded, stepping forward. “Give us some light with Shock Wave.”

  Blitzle reared up and stomped. A sphere of electricity expanded outward, illuminating the entire cavern in a flash of yellow-white light.

  They saw it.

  The image burned into Rosa’s eyes instantly.

  The lake was a graveyard.

  Floating on the surface, tangling with patches of oily water weeds, were Pokémon bodies. Dozens of them. The long, grey form of an Eelektross drifted belly-up, its eyes clouded and white. A cluster of Galvantula floated together, their legs curled tight in rigor mortis. A Zebstrika bobbed against a rock with its mane extinguished.

  The bodies were perfectly intact, but entirely drained of color, reduced to husks of pale, grey flesh.

  The light faded, plunging them back into darkness, but the afterimage remained searingly bright in Rosa’s mind.

  “Oh my god,” Bianca whimpered, stumbling back.

  “Th-they’re dead,” Hilda whispered, her voice breaking. “All of them.”

  “Dumped,” Ms. Gabby said. Her voice was devoid of emotion, hollowed out by horror. “Drained of every ounce of energy they had and discarded here like industrial waste.”

  “Why would someone do this?” Rosa cried out, clutching Blitzle as if to protect it from the water.

  “To power something,” Nate said grimly. “A weapon.”

  A crash of water sounded from the darkness of the lake. It was massive, like a boulder crashing down from the ceiling.

  “What was that?” Hugh hissed, spinning around.

  The water began to churn. The husks of the dead Electric-types were violently shoved aside as something massive displaced the water. The Tynamo scattered deep into the lake, fearing for their lives.

  A low croak beckoned them to the water’s edge.

  “Something’s out there.”

  Skyla shuffled her dying flashlight, pointing the dim orange beam toward the disturbance. Two red eyes reflected the light. They sat atop a wart-covered head that breached the surface. A gigantic hand breached the surface, gripping a floating rock and crushing it to powder.

  “Seismitoad,” Cheren breathed, paralyzed.

  “Run!” Skyla screamed.

  “Blitzle! Return!” Rosa recalled Blitzle back to the safety of its ball.

  The beast roared so fiercely the vibrations rippled the water. It swam towards them, closing the gap to the shoreline. Rosa caught a look at the Seismitoad. The blue monster was impossibly huge. It was a monarch, maddened by the toxic environment, ruling over a kingdom of the dead.