The rock beneath my boot shifted.

  I swore under my breath, my arms windmilling as loose gravel skittered down the slope ahead of me. I quickly dropped my center of gravity, catching myself on a rocky formation before I could slide down.

  As I looked ahead, Orin didn't even slow down.

  He descended the rocky formation with easy, confident movements, his claws finding purchase as if the stone were made for him. He paused a few meters below, turned, and looked up at me, his dark eyes bright, mouth stretched into a grin.

  "Oh, shut up," I muttered. "Don't be smug just because you're a Pokémon."

  He let out a quiet huff that sounded suspiciously like a laugh and continued down, keeping an eye out for any wild Pokémon around us.

  Orin was bigger now, much bigger than the frightened, half-starved Teddiursa I'd first carried out of that bunker. His fur was thick and healthy, a rich brown that caught the sunlight, with clearly defined muscles beneath it when he moved.

  He was a little over three feet tall and stronger now too.

  And annoyingly coordinated.

  I carefully worked my way down the last stretch, boots scraping against the rock, before turning back toward the others.

  Kailey was halfway down behind me, moving cautiously but with determination. She wore short knee boots, fitted shorts, and a light t-shirt that clung slightly from sweat. A wide-brimmed hat shaded her face, and her blonde hair was cut short and practical beneath it. She looked athletic and confident, but the rocks were clearly not her favorite terrain.

  Behind her, the rest of the junior researchers were having a much worse time.

  Caleb went first, tall, broad-shouldered, dark-haired, built like someone who spent more time lifting equipment than hiking cliffs. He clung to the rocks with both hands, jaw clenched.

  "I don't like this..." he grumbled.

  Marlo was next, thinner and sharp-faced, with a permanent scowl and long limbs that didn't quite know where to go. He kept slipping, swearing under his breath each time.

  "Why did we even pick this spot?" he complained. "This is how people die in documentaries."

  Gloria brought up the rear, petite but wiry, her dark hair pulled into a tight braid. She moved carefully through the rocky formation, her expression one of pure irritation.

  "I signed up for marine Pokémon biology," she said flatly. "Not rock climbing."

  I sighed and moved closer, planting my feet firmly.

  "Alright, guys," I said, holding out my arms. "One at a time. Don't rush it."

  Kailey reached me first. I steadied her as she stepped down the last ledge, her hand gripping my shoulder briefly before she found solid ground. Caleb followed, nearly crushing my foot as he landed.

  "Sorry," he muttered.

  Marlo slipped again, this time badly, and I caught him by the elbow before he could tumble.

  "I'm never complaining about paperwork again," he panted.

  Gloria dropped down last, immediately brushing sand off her boots.

  Once everyone was down, I straightened and let out a long breath.

  The small sandy strip opened up in front of us, tucked between jagged stone and gently lapping water. The sun was high and bright, reflecting off the ocean in shimmering sheets of blue. Waves rolled in softly, foaming white against the shore.

  I tugged at my white sleeveless shirt, adjusting the strap of the small cross-body bag resting against my chest. My Poké Balls sat secure on my belt, with my RangerNav and Pokédex clipped beside them.

  The ocean stretched endlessly ahead of us.

  It was beautiful; I sometimes forgot just how beautiful this world was.

  To the right, several miles down the coast toward Cerulean, our research boat bobbed in the water, sleek and compact.

  I turned back to Kailey. "Are we done here?"

  She huffed, hands on her hips. "Yeah. Our sensors and cameras are set."

  Motion cameras, trail cams adapted for aquatic movement near the surface, were anchored to rocks . The idea was to monitor Sharpedo activity, as recent incursions from outside the region were causing massive damage to the ecology and were causing incidents.

  Marlo squinted back up the cliff. "You sure the ones up there will even catch anything useful?"

  "They will," Kailey said without hesitation. "Trust me, I've done this before."

  Gloria wiped sweat from her brow. "Doesn't mean I have to appreciate doing this in the middle of the day."

  Kailey shot her a look. "Fieldwork isn't comfortable, but it's important."

  I raised a hand. "Alright. If we're done, let's head back before someone gets heatstroke."

  No one argued with that.

  We walked over the hot sands and then through the shallows to the jet skis waiting just offshore. The water was cool against my legs, refreshing after the climb.

  Caleb climbed on behind me, still muttering about the heat and teh harsh sunlight. Orin hopped up smoothly in front, settling between the handlebars and me with practiced ease.

  He's kind of big now...

  Kailey and Gloria shared another jet ski, while Marlo took the last.

  Kailey released her Goldeen into the water beside us. The Pokémon flicked its tail, swimming circles around the skis before darting ahead, clearly enjoying itself.

  We powered up and headed out, engines humming as we cut across the water toward the research vessel. The water parted as we drove our skis for a few minutes until we reached the boat.

  The crew helped us aboard, hauling the jet skis up and securing them. Familiar faces greeted me with nods and quick smiles.

  The sea rolled beneath us in slow, steady swells. The boat rose and dipped with a rhythm you felt in your knees. Sunlight shattered across the surface, bright enough to sting if you stared too long. Far off, the horizon blurred into a thin line of pale blue.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  I paused at the railing for a moment, resting my forearms against the cool metal. The wind tugged at my shirt, salt sharp in the air.

  Kailey walked over to me and thanked me again for being here for security, wild Pokémon deterrent, and emergency response, all rolled into one.

  "How long are we going out here?" I asked.

  "A few more hours," she said. "We need to move and collect deep-sea sensors and recalibrate them."

  I nodded. "Got it."

  I turned away from Kailey and walked along the deck.

  The research boat was bigger than it looked, with sleek lines and reinforced hull plating, antenna arrays rotating quietly above us. This wasn't some fishing vessel It was a one built for science; it was sturdy and had all the toys a scientist could ask for.

  Then I headed below deck.

  The hatch slid shut behind me with a soft hiss, muting the ocean. The interior corridor was narrow but clean, lit with recessed panels that glowed a calm white. The hum of the engines was louder here, a constant vibration through the floor.

  A deckhand passed me, carrying a crate of equipment. He gave me a nod.

  "Everything good topside?" he asked.

  "Yeah, we're fine," I replied. "No surprises yet."

  "Let's keep it that way," he said, moving on.

  I reached my assigned room, a compact space tucked between storage and crew quarters. It was functional: a narrow bed bolted to the wall, a fold-down desk, and a couch just big enough to sink into after a long day.

  A small window showed nothing but water sliding past the hull.

  I dropped my cross-body bag onto the chair, unclipped my belt, and set it carefully on the desk. The Poké Balls made a soft clink as they touched the surface.

  I grabbed a towel and changed into another pair of clothes before opening the mini fridge to grab a cold drink.

  Then I sat down on the couch and took the first sip; the swallow was sharp and satisfying, chasing away the heat of the day.

  My thoughts drifted back over the past year.

  Oak's lab had changed everything.

  Being a lab trainer wasn't glamorous. Yes, it had opened massive doors for me outside; people looked at you differently when you were an Oak's lab trainer. But it was a grind. It was real work, clocking in and clocking out.

  I had trained baby Pokémon destined to become starters. I even had the honor of training some of the royal starters, helping them grow enough for new trainers who didn't know what they were getting into yet. It was different than what I was used to; I wasn't training them to be strong or even to learn moves, just to not be wild.

  Some days I worked with aides handling difficult Pokémon, ones that had been surrendered, injured, or simply misunderstood. They were aggressive and had power in spades. Those were the hardest, but my Pokémon came through.

  And my powers...

  Then there were the expeditions, fieldwork like this, cataloging habitats, tracking migration patterns, stepping into places where humans weren't really welcome, and the danger was real.

  Through all of it, my team had grown.

  Caesar was strong now, his scales had hardened and developed more finesse along with his raw power. Every moment he moved was packed with strength, and he had grown slightly sleeker with longer tusks.

  Livia had grown faster. Her wingspan was wider, and she had a presence now; her plumage had grown too.

  And Orin…

  I smiled without meaning to.

  Orin had changed the most. His confidence had grown along with his power.

  All three of them felt close to evolving. It could happen any day now; they just needed that push.

  I smiled, thinking about our incredible journey so far. I was about to have fully matured Pokémon, something most trainers never achieve.

  My powers were such a cheat.

  I glanced at the date on my Pokédex.

  My birthday was in a few days.

  Sixteen.

  I could then apply for a trainer license, no more special permissions. I'd be stepping out into the world as a legal adult, and everything opened up to me, gyms, regions beyond Kanto if I wanted them.

  And the conference...

  I lifted the Pokédex and began scrolling through the local Cerulean news feed.

  Sharpedo attacks, one after the other.

  Boats damaged. One sunk. Trainers injured. A confirmed death toll this time, two fishermen and one independent trainer who hadn't reported in.

  My jaw tightened.

  The reports painted a worrying picture: coordinated movement, packs behaving with more aggression than normal, pushing closer to established routes, disrupting trade lanes, forcing the League to reroute transport.

  Invasive behavior.

  I leaned back, eyes on the screen, the boat rocking gently beneath me.

  I don't know what the authorities can do anyway...

  I scrolled again.

  Another article loaded.

  The headline made me pause.

  LANCE BLACKTHORNE CHALLENGES PRYCE FOR THE POSITION OF CHAMPION

  I stared at it for a long moment.

  Then I huffed out a quiet laugh.

  "Well," I muttered, "I'm glad some things aren't changing."

  Lance, the current generation's Dragon Master and Blackthorn's pride, Elite Four.

  Challenging for Champion meant something big. It was a change of guard, a shift in the governance of a region.

  It wasn't something easily done.

  I closed the Pokédex and rested my head back against the couch.

  Things were changing, and I was going to be a part of it.