Kael awoke to the sound of soft pawsteps circling his sleeping bag. His hand instinctively went for the Pokéball on his belt, but the footsteps weren't threatening—just familiar. Echo.
The silver-furred Eevee nosed at his face, her large ears flicking in the morning breeze. Dawn had broken over Route 29, painting the sky in hues of orange and lavender. He sat up slowly, rubbing sleep from his eyes and brushing leaves from his tangled hair.
"Morning," he murmured.
Echo wagged her tail, then trotted toward the firepit, now cold and ringed in ash. He quickly packed his tent and cooking gear, his movements practiced and quiet. He had always helped around the house, but this was different. Out here, there were no schedules. No fences. No limits.
Just the road, and the question that had haunted him since Morty's message: What really happened to my father?
The route ahead sloped gently westward, curving through the tall grasses and sparse trees. Wild Pokémon rustled in the underbrush, but he and Echo passed through without trouble. A few hours later, the sight of rooftops and the salty tang of sea breeze greeted them. Cherrygrove City.
It wasn't large—more of a sleepy coastal town than a bustling hub—but to him, it was the biggest place he'd seen in years. A few trainers lounged by the Pokémon Center steps, and a fisherman dozed on the pier, rod still bobbing in the waves.
He entered the Pokémon Center with a sense of quiet awe. Nurse Joy greeted him with a smile, and Echo's Pokéball was taken for a quick check-up. He watched her vanish behind the doors, trying not to feel the pang of worry that came from letting her out of sight.
"First time in Cherrygrove?" Nurse Joy asked when she returned.
"Yeah," He said, accepting the Pokéball as it was returned to him. "Heading to Ecruteak."
Her smile faltered, just for a second. "That's quite a journey. Be careful—some routes have been more dangerous lately. Especially near the Burned Tower."
His curiosity flared. "What do you mean?"
She glanced around, lowering her voice. "Trainers have been reporting strange sightings. Ghost-types in unusual numbers. Shadows moving without source. Ecruteak's always been a bit… spiritual, but this feels different."
Kael tucked the information away. More and more, Morty's message seemed like just the tip of something larger.
Outside, the town bustled quietly. He stopped at a PokéMart to stock up—Antidotes, Potions, a few spare Pokéballs—and stepped back into the street just as someone bumped into him.
"Whoa, sorry!" the stranger said, steadying Kael by the shoulder.
She looked to be around his age, maybe a little younger, with jet-black hair tied in a messy ponytail and a weathered satchel slung over her back. A Pokéball gleamed at her hip, but her eyes were what caught his attention—sharp, calculating, but not unkind.
"You alright?" she asked.
"Yeah, I'm good," he replied. "Just came into town."
"Figured. You've got that fresh-out-of-the-route look." She grinned. "Name's Lira."
"Kael."
"Where you headed?"
"Ecruteak."
The grin faded. "Huh. You too."
He blinked. "What do you mean, too?"
She glanced around, then leaned in. "I've been hearing stuff. Weird stuff. About Morty. Rumors that he's stopped giving out badges. People say he's holed up in the Burned Tower, chasing something that doesn't want to be found."
Kael felt the weight of the Pokégear in his pocket. The message. The mission. The mystery.
"I'm going there to meet him," he said. "He sent me a message."
Lira's eyes narrowed slightly. "Then maybe you're the reason he's been acting strange."
Before he could ask what she meant, she stepped back and unclipped a Pokéball from her belt.
"Tell you what—how about a battle? You win, I'll tell you what I know. I win, you tell me why Morty's suddenly sending letters to strangers."
He hesitated, then nodded. "Deal."
They moved to a patch of open grass near the beach, drawing the attention of a few onlookers. Lira tossed her Pokéball first.
"Let's go, Misdreavus!"
The Ghost-type emerged in a swirl of blue mist, eyes glowing mischievously.
He stepped back and released Echo. The silver-furred Eevee stood ready, tail swishing.
"A Ghost-type…" he muttered. "Normal moves won't hit unless—"
"Unless you get clever," she interrupted, smirking.
"Misdreavus, Confuse Ray!"
The orb of light spiraled toward Echo, who stumbled as it hit, eyes unfocused.
Kael's heart raced. "Echo, shake it off—use Sand Attack!"
Somehow, Echo responded, flinging dirt into Misdreavus's face. The ghost hissed and recoiled.
"Psywave!" she said.
The air rippled with energy. Echo yelped and was thrown back, tumbling through the grass.
Kael clenched his fists. "You've got this, Echo! Focus—Bite!"
The Eevee's eyes sharpened, and with a growl, she lunged. Her fangs shimmered with a faint dark aura as they sank into Misdreavus, who shrieked and dissolved into motes of light.
Lira recalled her Pokémon. "Well, I'll be…"
Kael exhaled. "We won?"
"You did," she admitted, then added, "And that Bite wasn't normal. That Eevee of yours—she's different."
He knelt to check on Echo, who nuzzled him proudly.
"She's… evolving," he said quietly. "But not into anything I recognize. Her fur's been silver since I found her. She's stronger than a regular Eevee, but she hasn't chosen a path."
Lira looked thoughtful. "Maybe she doesn't want the usual paths. Maybe she's waiting—like you—for something more."
They sat in silence for a moment, the waves lapping gently against the dock.
"I've been tracking strange patterns," she said at last. "Ghost-type movements. Old ruins lighting up with weird energy. Morty's been at the center of it all. But I didn't think anyone else was involved."
Kael stood, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Well… now you know. I'm heading out first thing in the morning."
Lira nodded. "I'll see you on the road, Kael. And maybe—just maybe—we're chasing the same ghost."