Pokemon: Echoes of the dusk

The morning sun spilled over the rooftops of Ravios, casting long shadows across its polished stone streets and tiled towers. Sounds of carriages, Pokémon cries, and distant bells echoed softly through the city. The scent of baked bread and berry preserves lingered in the crisp air.

Shion stirred beneath the blanket of his rented inn bed, one leg kicked halfway off the mattress, his hair a tousled mess.

He opened one eye, groaned, and sat up slowly.

His back ached. His arms were sore.

Too much walking yesterday.

Bidoof was snoring upside-down on a pillow beside him, clutching a crumb-filled handkerchief like it was a sacred relic.

Shion let out a breath and swung his feet to the floor.

It had been a long day. A good one. He'd laughed more than he'd expected to. Even smiled for real.

But now the city was calling again.

"I should head to the guild "he muttered

---

After a light breakfast and a half-hearted attempt to brush his hair (which ultimately failed), Shion stepped into the street. Kiba walked alongside him, alert and tail swishing. Raku, the small but energetic Treecko, was perched on his shoulder, nibbling on a dried berry stick.

The city felt... different this morning.

Still alive, still brilliant, but the air had a pulse to it. Tension, but not danger. Excitement, but coiled. The people he passed walked faster. Their voices were louder. More focused. He saw trainers sparring in alleys, Pokémon stretching, leaping, practicing.

Even the shopkeepers seemed sharper, their eyes watching every person who passed.

What's going on?

He turned a corner toward the southern avenue and immediately saw a man commanding a Hitmonlee to strike a training post again and again, sweat pouring off both of them. Two children were trying to get their Chimecho to learn a new move. Even an old woman was yelling at a stubborn Machop to stop flexing and start listening.

It was chaos, but purposeful chaos.

Then Shion noticed the banners.

Thick, vibrant red cloth stretched between buildings, lined with silver fringe. Golden emblems in the shape of a roaring lion curled with flame. A new symbol, different from the royal crest.

He slowed down, brows furrowed.

More and more banners followed. Vendors were selling themed cloaks and pins. A drummer tapped out a rhythm at the city's edge. People were painting chalk lines in an open plaza.

Something was building.

Something big.

---

He finally reached the familiar stone archway of the Adventurer's Guild, its doors wide open and bustling with activity.

It looked similar to the one in Bellmire, but larger and more fortified. Here, armored adventurers shared tables with foreign mercenaries, mages in training, and knights between postings. The quest boards were bigger. The coin pouches heavier. And the egos even larger.

Shion stepped inside and scanned the front hall. The layout was familiar, at least. Quest board on the left, registration desk at the center, tavern and rest areas beyond.

As he approached the board, still wondering about the energy humming in the city, he didn't notice the person rounding the corner ahead.

Until he walked straight into someone

Thud.

They both jolted.

Shion instinctively reached out to steady her, but she already stepped back, her dark eyes narrowing with irritation.

She was shorter than him, but not by much. She had long, inky black hair tied tightly into a ponytail that whipped behind her as she turned, and her small frame carried an air of control and precision. She wore sleek adventurer's leathers trimmed in storm blue, a silver badge clipped near her shoulder.

"Watch where you're going" she snapped, sharp and direct.

Shion blinked, startled. "Sorry! I didn't—"

But she was already walking away, boots clicking briskly against the stone floor.

Shion turned and watched her vanish into a side corridor, still slightly stunned.

"…Well. That was friendly."

Raku gave a chirp that sounded almost like a sigh.

Kiba just rolled his eyes.

Shion rubbed his head and returned his attention to the quest board, still trying to make sense of the city's strange atmosphere.

As he browsed the postings, he overheard a pair of adventurers chatting behind him near the tavern railing.

"So you entering the tournament?" one said, a broad-shouldered man with a Sealeo by his side.

"Dunno yet. The Grand Tournament's gonna be packed this year."

Shion's ears perked.

Tournament?

He leaned subtly closer as they continued.

"Did you see the prize? A royal favor? That's not just coin. That's the kind of thing that gets you knighted."

"Yeah, but the competition's crazy. They're saying people from Obelia and even Aldara are sending fighters."

Shion stepped back and cleared his throat awkwardly, trying to appear casual.

"Um, excuse me," he asked the broader man. "What tournament are you talking about?"

The man turned, friendly enough, and gave a quick nod. "New here, huh?"

Shion nodded. "Sort of."

"The Ravelle Grand Festival. Happens once every few years, but this one's gonna be huge. Capital's opening its gates for the Grand Tournament. Anyone can enter. Doesn't matter your title, age, status . If you've got skill, you step onto the field."

Shion's eyes widened. "That sounds… incredible."

"It is. Grand Coliseum's the heart of it. Just watching the matches is worth the trip. But the prize? That's the real draw."

Shion tilted his head. "The royal favor?"

"Exactly. You win, and you're granted an audience with the Crown. You can ask for something anything within reason and they'll grant it."

Shion blinked.

An audience with the royal family…?

He thought of the Academy. Of the guard at the gate. Of being tossed into a crate like a sack of potatoes.

Could that be his way in?

"Do you know when registration starts?"

"Tomorrow afternoon. Head to the Coliseum. It'll be packed."

Shion bowed his head gratefully. "Thanks a lot."

"Don't mention it. Good luck if you're joining. The field's gonna be full of heavy hitters."

Shion went to the quest board mind thinking about the tournament

A tournament. A real one.

Not a skirmish in a forest.

Not a desperate scuffle against bandits.

An actual match in a coliseum, in front of a crowd, with rules, an audience, and the weight of the kingdom watching.

And the prize?

More than coin. More than glory.

A chance to change something.

He looked down at the two Poké Balls on his belt, then glanced back at Kiba and Raku.

Kiba had already picked up on his change in energy, tail wagging once, slowly. Raku bounced in place, as if already warming up.

Shion exhaled.

He still had time before registration opened. A day and a half.

He'd never entered a proper tournament before. He barely knew what to expect. But if there was ever a time to step forward...

It was now.

He turned back to the board, determined.

"I'll take a quest," he muttered Something tough. Let's get ready for this."

---

The front wall of the Ravios Adventurer's Guild, casting gold against the carved runes in the stone. Shion stood beneath the Silver Rank quest board, hands in his pockets, eyes scanning the parchment slips pinned across the large wooden display.

There were some impressive ones.

Escort missions for foreign traders. Exploration of ancient sub-crypts. A rumored ghost-type infestation in the sewer aqueducts.

Some paid well. Others promised battle.

But one caught his attention.

"Silver Rank Request: Subjugation – Aggressive Pokémon Pack"

Location: Oakglen Grove, western border of city

Details: A group of wild Pokémon (approx. 5–7) has become territorial near the grove perimeter. Multiple civilians have been chased or frightened. Possible nesting behavior.

Objective: Assess, subdue or drive off threat.

Reward: 45 silver coins

Shion stepped closer, pulling the slip from the board.

It wasn't glamorous.

But it was perfect.

"A group of wild Pokémon… Might be just the thing to give Raku some real training," he thought.

Raku had come a long way in a short time. The Treecko had gone from a listless, malnourished shell to an energetic, agile presence on Shion's team. It wasn't quite ready for high-level duels, but the spark was there a genuine hunger to fight and grow.

Shion nodded to himself, turning toward the counter to log the mission.

He had no idea what else the afternoon would bring.

---

It was a thirty-minute walk to Oakglen Grove, a patch of semi-wild woodland just outside the western gate of Ravios. Though close to the city, it served as a transitional zone part research preserve, part natural park, and part problem spot for adventurers with something to prove.

By the time Shion arrived, the sun had warmed the field edges, and long shadows stretched between moss-covered stones and tangled roots.

A small outpost cabin stood at the grove's border. A lean man with pale stubble and a dark vest leaned against the railing, scanning a map.

Shion approached, offering a nod.

"Here for the subjugation quest," he said.

The man looked up, squinting. "Name?"

"Shion. Silver-ranked."

"Right. You're the second."

Shion blinked. "Second?"

Before he could ask, another voice came from the side of the path.

"I told you I wasn't going to wait around all day."

Shion turned

and saw her.

The girl from the guild.

Black ponytail. Storm-blue coat. Lean frame. Same sharp expression. She stepped into view from where she'd been leaning against a tree, arms crossed.

Her eyes flicked toward Shion.

No recognition. Not even a twitch.

Shion raised a hand awkwardly. "Uh… hi."

She blinked once, flatly. "...Do I know you?"

"Ah. Not really. We uh we bumped into each other earlier. At the guild."

A pause. Then she tilted her head.

"Oh. You're the guy with the messy scarf."

Shion sweat-dropped. "I guess that's me."

She didn't apologize. Just looked back at the man with the mission brief.

He cleared his throat and spoke before things could grow more awkward.

"Alright. You're both here, so here's the situation. Pack behavior started about four days ago. Witnesses claim they saw a mix of bug and dark-types definitely at least one Scyther. Possibly a Weavile."

Shion winced slightly. "That's a rough mix."

"Nothing confirmed," the man said. "But they're getting bold. We don't want them setting up permanent territory near a public path."

"Got it," the girl said. She turned on her heel. "Come on, Scarf Guy."

Shion blinked. "Wait, we're working together?"

She didn't answer just started walking toward the grove path.

The man shrugged. "Joint posting. Sorry, kid. It's how it was submitted."

Shion sighed and jogged to catch up.

"Do I at least get a name this time?" he asked, trying for casual.

She didn't slow down. "Belle."

"Belle… huh. Nice name."

Another pause.

"I'm Shion."

"I know. You said it already."

The silence that followed could have frozen a Growlithe.

The two walked deeper into Oakglen Grove.

It was quieter than the city outskirts shaded and thick with canopy branches. The air smelled of pine bark and fresh grass. A few wild Cutiefly drifted lazily by, glowing faintly in the dappled light.

Belle walked ahead with purpose. No hesitation, no glances back. Her gait was precise, her eyes scanning every movement in the undergrowth.

Shion trailed behind slightly, trying not to step on roots or get tangled in the ivy that crept along the path edges.

"Do you usually do these kinds of missions?" he asked.

Belle gave a noncommittal shrug.

"Silver-ranked stuff? Yeah. Sometimes harder. Depends on coin."

"I just got promoted," Shion offered.

"I could tell."

He blinked. "How?"

"You hesitated when you walked up to the mission guy. And you're asking small talk questions. Most veterans don't bother."

Shion raised an eyebrow. "So I'm not allowed to talk?"

"You can. It just means you're new."

"…Right."

They reached a wider clearing near a shallow pond.

Belle stopped and dropped into a crouch, examining some fresh indentations in the mud near the water's edge.

"Claw marks," she murmured. "Three sets. Not from the same Pokémon. Not staggered, so they were walking together."

Shion tilted his head. "What makes you think they're still here?"

"They marked territory. Means they're confident. If they'd left, they wouldn't bother."

He nodded slowly. "You're pretty good at this."

"I've been doing it longer."

Shion crouched down beside her, curious. "How long have you been adventuring?"

"Since I was twelve."

He blinked. "Seriously?"

She stood, brushing her hands off. "Some of us don't grow up in soft and peaceful town."

"…Okay, rude."

"Just saying."

Shion sighed, brushing a branch out of his face as they moved deeper into the woods.

He glanced down at Raku, who was now walking alongside them, eyes alert. The Treecko had been listening quietly the whole time, tail flicking.

"You ready for this?" Shion asked.

Raku chirped quietly.

Belle looked down. "That one's new, huh?"

Shion nodded. "Still building strength. But it's smart."

Belle gave a small, approving nod. "Better than most rookies."

Suddenly, Raku froze.

Its tail stiffened.

Kaien stopped too.

"What is it?" Shion whispered.

A rustling came from the trees ahead.

Then, a blur of green.

"Scyther!" Kaien called.

Shion saw it a large one, faster than any he'd seen, darting through the underbrush with sharp, angular wings.

But it wasn't alone.

Two more shapes darted behind it one small and crawling low, a Drapion, its purple armor glinting. And above them both

Weavile.

Belle had already stepped forward, pulling a Poké Ball from her belt.

"They're flanking," she snapped. "Get ready. This is dangerous ."

Shion reached for Raku's ball.

But Treecko was already in front of him, crouched low, eyes narrowed.

Shion's heart jumped.

"…You sure?"

Raku gave a quick, firm nod.

Shion tightened his grip.

"Alright then."