The sun was rising by the time we stepped out of Pokémon Tower.
Lavender Town looked... normal.
People were stirring from their homes like they'd just woken up from a really long nap. Rubbing their eyes, yawning, blinking at the morning light like it was the first time they'd seen it in days. A shopkeeper stood outside his Poké Mart, stretching like he'd been asleep on his feet. Nurse Joy blinked rapidly as she swept the front of the Pokémon Center, confused but calm.
Like they'd all just... woken up from the same dream.
At the same time, they had no memories of what happened. Not one person remembered the thing.
Still…
How did that Malamar know that music?
I tapped Astra's Pokéball.
"You heard it too, right?" I asked. "The music?"
She said telepathically. "What music?"
I stared at her. "The music. That creepy melody. It started the second I got close to town and kept getting louder the deeper I went."
"I heard nothing."
"Not even during the fight?"
"No."
"But… it was everywhere," I said, more to myself than her. "It got louder the deeper I went into the tower. I thought it was part of the illusion or some kind of ghost-type move but—"
That's when it clicked.
The Spooky Plate.
That twisted Malamar had it. It wasn't just boosting its power—it was amplifying fear.
Not just any fear—personal fear.
Mine.
It didn't need to invent a new nightmare. It dug through my memories, found the exact thing that would rattle my bones, and played it like a song on loop.
The old creepypasta. That cursed version of Lavender Town's theme from when I was a kid, back when we'd dare each other to listen to it in the dark and swear we heard whispers at the end.
"It used your own memories. Your fear."
"I see," I muttered to myself, thinking it over.
How did it even get to me, though?
I've faced off against telepaths, illusionists, and even those mystical mind tricks. My defenses? Stronger than that.
How did it even get to me, though?
Unless…
It didn't bypass anything.
That's why it was limited to that music. Maybe that explains it. The residents of Lavender Town were under some form of control, and as someone who arrived there, I should have also been susceptible to that mind control.
"How did a Paradox Pokémon end up here in Kanto?" I muttered to myself, a frown creasing my brow. "Did it escape from Area Zero? Still how did it get this far?"
My mind raced with possibilities. "And where did it get the Spooky Plate?"
The SpookyPlate is now safely in my inventory.
I took a deep breath. With one last look around the quiet town, I turned toward the path that led out of Lavender Town.
"Alright, team, let's get moving. We've got a long road ahead of us."
—
Look, in my defense, I meant to go to Saffron City next.
That was the plan. Probably. Kinda. Okay, fine—I thought it was the plan. But then I saw the sign pointing toward Route 12 and had a sudden, dramatic realization:
"Oh crap, Vermilion City exists."
Yeah. Just... forgot about an entire coastal city. Totally normal.
But once I remembered, it made perfect sense to go there first. Obviously. It's on the way. Kinda. If you squint.
Anyway.
Route 12? Fantastic choice. Sea breeze in the face, wooden walkways that creaked just enough to feel nostalgic but not enough to scream "you're gonna fall through," and the occasional old guy yelling at the water about his missing Magikarp. The vibes were immaculate.
This route had everything: weird fisherman, and scenic views. 10/10, would detour again.
I kept walking, hands behind my head, kicking pebbles into the sea and letting my thoughts wander the way they do when I'm technically lost but pretending it's all part of the journey.
And then Route 11 showed up. Little more trees, little more grass, way more bug Pokémon trying to throw hands. Sun was thrilled. I was less thrilled.
At one point, some guy tried to sell me a "limited edition Slowbro hat." Like, full foam headpiece, googly eyes, slightly damp. I declined. Sun tried to fight him.
Eventually, the city came into view—red roofs, ships docked in the harbor, streets buzzing with life and Magnemite zipping around like confused Roombas. Vermilion City.
And I just… grinned.
This place felt right. Loud. Messy. A little salty. Like me, but with better infrastructure.
I stepped into the Pokémon Center and flopped into the nearest beanbag chair I hoped wasn't decorative, and sighed.
Yeah. This was it.
No haunted anything. Just sea air, gym battles, and probably way too many Electrode.
Saffron could wait.
Right now? I was vibing with Vermilion.
—
After a good long rest—and maybe a nap I completely deny happening—I finally decided it was time.
Time to take on Vermilion Gym.
The building looked like someone had duct-taped a power plant to a military bunker and then said, "Yes, this is safe." Giant lightning bolts framed the door. Everything buzzed faintly, like even the bricks had a caffeine addiction.
To be honest, nearly half of my Pokémon are at a disadvantage here, specifically Zephyr and Levi.
Still, I wasn't about to back down just because the type matchup chart looked like a warning label. Zephyr and Leviathan weren't built for this fight—Flying and Water types in an Electric gym? Yeah, not ideal.
But he was my first. My partner. The one who'd been with me since the beginning. I wasn't about to bench him just because the battlefield wasn't in his favour.
I stepped inside, expecting rows of trainers, puzzles, maybe a guy demanding I find a hidden switch in a trash can. Instead, I found silence. Clean floors. A straight shot to the center, where one very tall, very intimidating man stood with his arms crossed like he was posing for a recruitment poster. Lt. Surge.
A woman at a side desk looked up as I entered and gave a nod. "Trainer?"
"Yeah," I said, adjusting my glove. "Here to challenge Surge."
"Thanks. I think I'll need it."
Surge looked up as I approached, a smirk already forming like he knew he was about to wreck someone's day. "So, you're the one I heard about."
I raised an eyebrow. "News travels fast."
"In my gym, everything moves fast. Electricity doesn't wait. Neither do I." He pulled a Poké Ball from his belt. "Let's see if you've got more spark than the last guy."
I let out a breath and stepped forward, hand hovering over Blaze's Poké Ball. This wasn't gonna be easy, but easy was never the goal. I wasn't here to play it safe. I was here to win.
"Let's light it up," I said, and threw the ball.
Surge tossed his Poké Ball with practiced ease, and the battle began.
Surge's first Poké Ball hit the ground with a sharp clack, and from the burst of light came a Voltorb, It didn't waste time—zipping in place, sparking all over, like it was begging for a reason to explode.
"Blaze, you're up!"
My Growlithe hit the field with a bark and eyes locked onto his target. He was already heating up, flame licking at the corners of his mouth.
"Flame Wheel, now!"
Blaze's body erupted into a blazing fireball, spinning at top speed as he charged toward Voltorb. Voltorb tried to dart out of the way, but Blaze was faster.
The fiery blur slammed into Voltorb, sending it skidding across the metal floor with a screeching crash. Voltorb twitched violently, crackling with energy before finally collapsing in a heap, the flames from Blaze's attack sizzling out.
"Voltorb is unable to battle!" the referee announced, and I couldn't help the small smirk that tugged at my lips.
It wasn't just Blaze. With my supplements and top-of-the-line Poké food, my Pokémon were stronger than their levels suggested. I mean, we're talking about a level of strength that even Pokémon with perfect IVs and EVs—at the same level—would struggle to match.
It lets them punch way above their weight class, taking on opponents much stronger than they'd typically be able to handle. You could call it cheating if you want, but I prefer to call it resourceful. I had the means to do it, so why not use them? It's all about maximizing your potential, right?
But Surge just clicked his tongue and smirked right back. "Not bad, kid. Let's see if you can handle this."
He threw his second Poké Ball with a sharp flick of his wrist. A flash of yellow light erupted, and Electabuzz materialized with a growl. Its fur was thick and striped like a tiger's, and it crackled with electric energy. The air around it hummed, vibrating with static.
"Electabuzz, Thunder Punch!" Surge barked, and Electabuzz immediately surged forward, fists glowing with crackling electricity. It was fast—faster than I expected.
I wasn't ready to give up Blaze just yet. "Dodge left, Blaze!"
Blaze skidded to the side, narrowly avoiding the glowing fist. The punch slammed into the floor, sending a shockwave of electricity splintering out, but Blaze was already back on his feet, ready to retaliate.
"Flame Wheel, Blaze! Full power!"
Blaze shot forward again, his body a fiery blur as he spiraled toward Electabuzz. But this time, Electabuzz was ready. It sidestepped at the last second, dodging Blaze's attack with surprising agility. In a swift motion, Electabuzz swung a second Thunder Punch right at Blaze's side.
The electric fist hit with a sickening crack, and Blaze yelped in pain as he was sent flying backward. He slammed into the floor, his body skidding to a halt before he shakily got back to his paws, breathing heavily.
Blaze let out a growl of frustration, but I could see he was struggling to stay on his feet. The damage had been done.
"Blaze is unable to battle!" the referee announced.
It seemed like Lt. Surge had noticed how strong my Pokémon were and decided it was time to stop holding back a bit. I knew gym leaders usually held back, using weaker Pokémon to match the trainer's level, but I wasn't exactly a typical challenger.
This was getting interesting.
"Sun, you're up!"
Sun hopped into the battle with an eager grunt, his fists raised, ready to go. I looked at Surge, who was already reaching for his next Poké Ball.
He tossed it into the air, and out came his Electabuzz. It landed with a crackle of electricity, its yellow fur sparking and its eyes glowing with intensity.
I didn't waste any time. I pulled out the Ulti Dex and pointed it toward Electabuzz.
Level 35.
I let out a quiet breath. It was almost ten levels higher than Sun, but it didn't bother me. Sun had held his own before. This wasn't going to be any different.
"Electabuzz, Thunder Punch!" Surge ordered, his voice firm.
Electabuzz surged forward, fists glowing with raw electric power. I wasn't going to let it get the first hit.
"Sun, dodge and use Low Sweep!" I commanded.
Sun leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding the crackling punch. He slid beneath Electabuzz's legs, sweeping them out from under it in one smooth move. Electabuzz hit the floor with a thud, but it was quick to get back up, shaking off the impact.
"Not bad, but Electabuzz is just getting started!" Surge grinned. "Electabuzz, Thunderbolt!"
Electabuzz raised its hands, and a blinding bolt of lightning shot straight at Sun.
"Sun, move!" I shouted.
Sun darted to the side, but the lightning caught him anyway, sending him crashing to the ground with a grunt. The static in the air made his fur stand on end, but he shook it off, his eyes still sharp. He wasn't done yet.
"Low Sweep again, Sun!" I shouted.
Sun nodded, charging back into the fray with all the speed he could muster. Electabuzz wasn't going to give him an inch, though. The Electric-type quickly adjusted its stance, ready to strike back.
But Sun was faster. He darted in under Electabuzz's legs once more, trying to sweep them out. However, this time, Electabuzz was prepared, twisting its body to avoid the attack and firing another devastating Thunderbolt in the same motion. The blinding electric charge hit Sun square in the chest, sending him tumbling backward with a sharp yelp.
At the exact same moment, Sun managed to connect with Electabuzz's legs, sweeping them from under him and sending the Electric-type crashing to the ground. Both Pokémon were down, breathing heavily, unable to move.
"Electabuzz is unable to battle!" the referee shouted immediately after seeing the aftermath.
"Sun is unable to battle!" came the follow-up, echoing through the gym.
I stared down at Sun, his little form twitching with exhaustion but still strong in spirit. The draw didn't bother me. In fact, I was impressed. Sun had held his ground against a higher-level opponent and came out equal. No shame in that.
"Well, well, looks like you've got some fight in you," Lt. Surge called, smirking.
I felt the tension in the air shift.
"Zephyr, you're up!" I threw the Poké Ball high into the air, and Zephyr swooped down, landing gracefully on the battlefield with a battle cry.
Raichu's eyes locked onto him, sparks of electricity crackling around its body, and I knew—I was up against an electric powerhouse. It wasn't going to be an easy fight, but Zephyr had pulled off tougher victories before.
I didn't waste any time. I knew that Raichu had the upper hand in terms of raw power, and one clean hit from that Thunderbolt could end this in a heartbeat. But Zephyr was fast.
"Zephyr, Double Team!" I shouted.
Zephyr shot into the air, his wings beating like a blur. Within seconds, he split into multiple afterimages, surrounding Raichu on all sides. Raichu's eyes darted around in confusion, trying to find the real Zephyr. It was clear Raichu wasn't used to facing an opponent that could move like this.
"Raichu, Thunderbolt! Hit them now!" Surge called out, his voice hard and focused.
Raichu charged up, and a crackling bolt of lightning shot toward the group of Zephyrs. But it missed. The afterimages flickered and vanished, but Zephyr was nowhere to be found. Raichu shook its head, clearly frustrated.
"Zephyr, get in close for Wing Attack!" I called.
Zephyr moved quickly, weaving through the afterimages like a ghost before swooping in with a powerful Wing Attack. He clipped Raichu hard, sending it stumbling back, its fur sparking as it tried to regain its footing.
"Raichu, Thunderbolt, now!" Surge barked, trying to regain control.
Raichu, still recovering from the Wing Attack, charged up for another Thunderbolt. I could feel the tension building in the air. This was going to be the deciding blow.
Before I could react, Raichu unleashed another blast of electricity. One of Zephyr's afterimages flickered out of existence as the bolt shot through it. The real Zephyr barely managed to dodge, the lightning grazing his wings.
"Zephyr!" I shouted, watching in horror as the electricity buzzed dangerously close to him.
Zephyr faltered midair, his wings flaring to regain control. He shook off the sparks and righted himself, but the damage was done. I could feel the strain on him. One more hit like that, and it could be over.
"Zephyr, Quick Attack! We need to finish this!" I urged.
Zephyr shot forward with lightning speed, heading straight for Raichu. It was a blur of feathers and energy, and Raichu didn't have time to react. Zephyr slammed into Raichu, the force of the impact sending it flying backward. Raichu landed hard on the floor, twitching before going still.
"Raichu is unable to battle!" the referee called out.
I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. Zephyr hovered in the air, panting, but I could see the pride in his eyes. He'd earned this one.
Lt. Surge let out a low whistle, his usual smirk replaced by genuine respect. "Not bad, kid. You really caught me off guard there."
I walked over to him, accepting the Thunder Badge he tossed my way.
"Thanks, Surge."
Three badges down.
"Alright," I said to the gang, stretching. "Next stop—Saffron City."
----
Author's Note:
After this chapter, we'll be entering the final arc of Aiden's journey in the Pokémon world. As mentioned before, I don't plan on writing a full volume dedicated to his adventures here—around 10 chapters should wrap things up nicely, and we are already halfway there. The rest of his adventures will be shown in side chapters.
I'd love to hear your thoughts.
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