Pokemon: Echoes of the dusk(hiatus)

The morning sun spilled golden light across Ravios, painting the sandstone towers and gleaming marble spires in soft hues. The streets buzzed vendors opened stalls, children chased Pidove through plazas, and flags bearing the Ravelle crest fluttered in the wind.

Shion jogged along the stone path that curved toward the Grand Arena, sweat misting his brow. His satchel bounced against his side, Bidoof's head poking lazily from the top.

"Big day," he muttered to himself, trying to regulate his breathing. "Main tournament. Top 50. We got this, right?"

Bidoof gave a soft, sleepy grunt. "You talk too much."

A few townsfolk gave them amused glances as they passed, likely recognizing the scruffy kid with the orange Lycanroc from the arena. One older man even gave a nod of respect, which only made Shion more nervous.

He was almost at the coliseum gate when

A shadow passed overhead.

Shion instinctively looked up.

A flash of leathery wings and piercing eyes descended fast.

"W-woah!"

With a thunderous flap of its wings, a Noivern landed in front of him, claws digging into the stone with a scraping screech. Its breath came hard and fast, and its eyes darted with wild urgency.

Shion stumbled back a step, startled. "What the?"

The Noivern gave a sharp cry half screech, half plea and flapped its wings, motioning wildly toward the alleys behind it.

It was panicked.

Desperate.

Shion stared. "Wait… are you trying to tell me something?"

The Noivern hissed, eyes locking onto his. It pawed the ground and pointed again.

"Uh… Bidoof? You're the Pokemon here. Translate?"

Bidoof blinked, then tilted its head at the dragon. After a moment, it muttered, "It wants us to follow. Something's wrong."

Shion hesitated. "But… the tournament"

The Noivern gave a sharper screech, nearly deafening, then turned and took off low toward the alleyway.

Shion looked toward the coliseum just in view… and then back at the fleeing Noivern.

His fists clenched. "I still have time… right?"

He bolted after it.

The alleys were a winding mess of uneven stones, laundry lines, and shadows. The morning crowd noise faded, replaced by the distant drip of water and the rustle of wings above.

After several turns, Noivern dove into a narrow corridor and landed by a crumbled wall behind a stack of crates.

Shion stopped, panting.

Then he saw her.

Kaela.

Slumped against the stone, barely conscious. Her usual sharp expression was dulled with pain, her face pale, one hand clutching her ribs. Her black scarf was torn, her armor scratched. Blood dried on her sleeve.

Shion's heart skipped. "Kaela?!"

He rushed to her side, falling to one knee.

"Kaela, what what happened?!"

She opened one eye. Recognition flickered in it but her voice barely reached him.

"You… of all people…"

Then she coughed and fell unconscious.

"No no, no, no, don't do that," Shion panicked. He looked up. "We need help. Bidoof clinic where?!"

"I don't know, ask someone who lives here!" the god-rodent snapped.

Shion didn't waste another second.

He hoisted Kaela onto his back, staggering for a moment beneath her weight. "She's heavier than she looks ngh"

Noivern flew overhead, guiding him with piercing shrieks.

"Clinic clinic where's the damn clinic?!" Shion shouted, eyes darting as he ran.

A startled passerby pointed him up the hill, shouting, "Red tile roof, corner of Elista Street!"

"Thanks!"

He ran, muscles burning, Kaela limp on his back, Bidoof clinging to the satchel and yelling complaints about motion sickness.

The clinic doors burst open with a thud.

"She's hurt! I don't know what happened please help!"

He was answered immediately.

Healers one with an Audino, another with glowing green salve swept in, gently pulling Kaela from his shoulders and placing her on a cot. Magical healing lights filled the air, tinged with green and pink.

Shion stood there, panting, watching helplessly.

She still hadn't woken up.

His hands trembled.

What happened to her…?

She wasn't the kind of person to let herself get cornered. She was quick, clever, brutal when needed. If something someone could hurt her like this, then something far darker was happening under the surface of Ravios.

And he didn't know a single detail.

Time passed in blinks.

Shion sat with Bidoof on a bench outside the healing room, foot tapping uncontrollably, eyes on the door.

But it didn't open.

She didn't stir.

He looked at the wall clock.

"I'm going to miss my battle…"

He hesitated again. Maybe he should stay. What if she wakes up and

Noivern suddenly landed with a thud in front of him again.

Shion blinked. "You again?"

Noivern narrowed its eyes, then barked something sharp.

Bidoof translated, "She'll be fine. You're needed elsewhere."

Shion stared. "But I"

Noivern shoved its claw toward him.

And then, with a screech

It grabbed him.

"Wait, WHAT?!"

Before he could protest, Noivern flapped its wings, dragging Shion into the sky by the collar of his coat. The wind howled in his ears. Below, the rooftops blurred past.

"I DIDN'T MEAN IT LITERALLY!!"

The Grand Arena came into view.

The crowd had already gathered. Trumpets were sounding. The banners of the tournament rippled in the wind.

Shion's heart dropped.

Please don't have started my match yet. Please.

Noivern arced low and let go, dropping him in a tumble of limbs and dust just outside the side gate.

A pair of guards jumped in alarm.

"Wha- who"

"Shion! That's competitor Shion!"

"Ah- Get him to the field! Now!"

Shion staggered to his feet, brushed Noivern feathers off his coat, and gave a quick wave. "I'm okay! Totally okay! Mostly!"

His knees wobbled.

Inside, the arena lights surged. The announcer's voice rang out.

"Next match: Shion of Riverleaf… versus Hagan Stonebrand!"

Shion stumbled into the waiting corridor, panting, heart racing, still trying to catch up with his own thoughts.

Kaela. Injured. The alley. The tournament.

Everything had just changed.

But the gate was opening.

The crowd was cheering.

And his battle was about to begin.

---

Few Minutes earlier

The sun was high when Ren stepped into the battlefield.

The crowd's roar rose like a crashing wave, echoing across the coliseum walls. Ren barely flinched. He was calm. Focused. Already visualizing the fight ahead.

Across from him stood his opponent Tovren of the Silent Gale, a man clad in pale blue-gray robes with sleeves that billowed like mist. His hair was long and silver, eyes half-lidded, hands tucked into the folds of his garb. His expression was unreadable.

But his stance told Ren enough.

This man was a dancer. A flowing style. Wind-based, evasive combat.

The referee gave no warning, only the sharp sweep of a red banner.

The signal.

Ren didn't hesitate.

"Blaziken."

The fire-type stepped forward, eyes burning bright. Its claws flexed, talons gripping the soil.

Across the field, Tovren's Pokémon materialized in a swirl of mist Whimsicott. Light. Fast. Annoying.

The two Pokémon didn't wait.

Whimsicott danced forward, sending a wave of cotton-like spores through the air Stun Spore, mixed with Leech Seed, thrown fast with deceptive force.

Ren's eyes flicked. "Flame Charge, straight through."

Blaziken burst forward in a trail of flames, ignoring the seeds as they grazed its feathers. It moved too fast for the Whimsicott to dodge.

Crack.

A flaming knee connected with the grass-type's torso, sending it spiraling.

But it landed on its feet barely. The dancer's style, even in its Pokémon.

Tovren gave no commands. Only a small hand gesture.

The wind shifted.

Whimsicott began to spin Tailwind and the breeze gathered behind it. In a blink, it was faster, darts of fairy magic raining down like confetti-turned-blades Moonblast.

Ren raised a hand. "Protect."

A green dome snapped into place around Blaziken as the attack shattered like glass on its surface.

"Don't stop."

Blaziken burst through the fading shield, flames cloaking its fists now.

Thunder Punch.

This time, the hit landed center mass. Electricity cracked. Whimsicott's cry echoed then it fell limp in the air.

The battle was over.

Tovren bowed silently, as if his loss was just a breeze passing by.

Ren bowed in turn.

---

From the stands, Mila let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

"You didn't hold back at all," she said, grinning at Ren as he returned.

Ren gave a small nod, wiping his forehead with a cloth. "No reason to."

Vince whistled. "That dancer guy looked so graceful I almost thought you'd start twirling in circles."

Mila laughed.

Another match began on the opposite field. A heavily armored woman with a Magnezone was battling a roguish-looking teen using a Garchomp. Explosions rocked the barriers, but Mila's eyes weren't on the match anymore.

She scanned the stadium. "Have either of you seen Shion?"

Ren shook his head. "Not since last night."

"That's weird," Mila said. "He's usually early."

Vince leaned forward, peering around the competitors. "Maybe he overslept?"

Mila gave a half-laugh, half-worrying hum. "Yeah… maybe."

Time passed. Another battle finished. The announcer's voice boomed once more.

"Match 8 Hagan Stonebrand versus Shion of Riverleaf!"

The spotlight swept across the coliseum as Hagan stepped forward.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, wearing heavy steel armor with gold trim. His crimson tabard bore the sigil of a hammer shattering a mountain. The crowd reacted with loud cheers clearly, he was well-known.

But the other side of the field was empty.

Silence crept in.

The crowd murmured.

Mila tensed. "Where is he?"

Vince scratched the back of his neck. "This is… not a good time to be late. Seriously."

Ren narrowed his eyes. "Something's wrong."

---

Shion hit the ground running literally his boots skidding slightly as he sprinted down the inner corridor of the coliseum.

"Noivern, remind me never to fly like that again!" he panted, waving half-heartedly at a stunned coliseum staff member as he passed.

"Match 8 Shion of Riverleaf!"

The announcer's voice echoed again, louder this time.

He burst into the waiting area just as an usher shouted, "You're up! Get in there!"

"Yeah I know I'm here I'm going!"

He barely had time to catch his breath as the gate opened.

The sunlight hit him like a wave.

And then

The noise.

Cheering. Chatter. Shouting. All of it rushing into his ears like a storm.

He stumbled forward into the arena, panting, hair tousled, coat half-buttoned.

The crowd gasped, confused at the late arrival.

Across the field, Hagan scowled beneath his helm, arms crossed.

From the stands, Mila jumped up. "There he is!"

Vince exhaled. "He made it."

Ren said nothing but the tightness in his shoulders eased.

Shion slowed to a stop, still panting, still flushed from the run. He stood across from Hagan, who now raised an eyebrow.

"You look like you just wrestled a Tauros herd."

Shion gave a breathless grin. "Well... Not quite."

Hagan shook his head, unamused. "You're late. Hope you're worth the delay."

Shion smiled faintly. "Guess we'll find out."

The referee waved the battle flag.

"Trainers release your Pokémon!"

Hagan didn't hesitate.

He threw a black-and-gold reinforced Poké Ball into the air.

A Rhyperior crashed into the battlefield.

The ground cracked. Dust billowed. Its arms flexed as its heavy tail slammed into the dirt with a resounding boom.

Shion's eyes narrowed.

"Rune," he said softly.

He pulled the Poké Ball from his belt and threw it with purpose.

The ball split open in a column of blue light.

And Rune stepped forward.

Massive. Towering. Ancient.

The very earth trembled beneath the weight of the Golurk.

Its eyes glowed faintly with blue energy. Magic coursed along the runes carved into its body.

Gasps echoed through the coliseum.

Even the announcer was momentarily speechless.

From the stands, Ren's eyes widened slightly. "That's his Golurk?"

Mila blinked. "He didn't say it was… that big."

Vince leaned over the railing. "Did it just make the ground shake?!"

The camera crystals around the arena zoomed in as Rune stood motionless, looming over even Rhyperior.

Hagan gave a grunt of acknowledgment. "Huh. Guess you brought a real one."

Shion exhaled one last shaky breath.

Then smiled.

"Let's do this, Rune."

The referee raised the banner.

The next battle had begun.