The morning after Riolu joined the team, the forest began to change. The dense canopies parted into clearings where fog danced like ghosts, and the terrain shifted—drier hills, sudden cliffs, and winding roots that reached out to trip the careless. Aiden pressed forward.
Each day began at dawn, with precision drills, meditation, and endurance battles. They trained relentlessly.
Sneasel and Riolu sparred across the rocks, learning each other's timing. Quick Attack evolved into blinding flashes. Feint Attack was now muscle memory, no longer seen until it hit. Icy Wind could sweep an entire battleground, and Crush Claw began slicing clean through bark and carapace. When ambushed by a feral Drapion, Sneasel used Throat Chop and Crush Claw in perfect harmony. The Drapion never roared again.
Zubat darted through narrow branches, sharpening Leech Life to a near art form. Supersonic confused even psychic types. Air Cutter evolved—now a cleaving, whistling strike of wind. In a sky-duel against a Staraptor, Zubat found a new rhythm, glowing midflight.
Zubat evolved into Golbat.
Golbat flew with brutal elegance. Gusts could flip foes midair. Aiden taught it U-turn—a strike-and-flee maneuver—which it practiced for days until it flowed into combat seamlessly. Golbat also picked up Poison Fang, its first toxic strike, which it used to bring down a stubborn Scyther.
Budew, quieter but no less fierce, practiced alone in pools of morning light. Her Growth pulses became exact. Stun Spore expanded in radius. Energy Ball now roared with pressure. After overwhelming a persistent Gloom with a blast of Mega Drain, she began to glow.
Budew evolved into Roselia.
With evolution came finesse. Roselia now fused Energy Ball with Growth effortlessly. She learned Aromatherapy, soothing team status effects with radiant mist.
Ponyta galloped flame-trails into open fields, clashing against foes in bursts of fire. Her Flame Wheel expanded its arc, burning wider paths. High Horsepower became deadly—cracking boulders in half. When faced with a stubborn Rhydon, she struck with Double Kick, landing swift, precise blows that staggered the brute long enough for Riolu to land Force Palm.
Riolu's Force Palm, meanwhile, grew sharper with each battle. It struck with paralyzing bursts. Blaze Kick flared hotter each time it landed. One night, under the pressure of a Primeape ambush, Riolu pushed past instinct and launched a Vacuum Wave—his first ranged aura strike. He practiced it relentlessly.
A sinkhole gave way beneath them, and the team found themselves in a glowing cave. Steelix waited, ancient and furious. The battle raged.
Golbat flew distraction, spinning Supersonic and Gust in tandem. Roselia launched Energy Balls with sniper precision. Riolu danced between coils, striking with Force Palm and Vacuum Wave. Sneasel used Throat Chop in bursts to silence its roars. Ponyta struck with a meteoric High Horsepower.
Together, they brought it down.
They left the cavern wordless.
Sunlight cut through thinning trees. Aiden, bruised and weatherworn, emerged onto the cliffside path. Below them lay Thistira Town, nestled against the dark slope of Mt. Thorne.
They had survived Brambleshade.
And they were ready for what came next.
Updated Pokémon Details
Sneasel
Stage: Apprentice → Veteran
Talent Color: Purple
Move Expertise:
Quick Attack — Expert
Feint Attack — Expert
Icy Wind — Advanced
Leer — Intermediate
Crush Claw — Advanced
Metal Claw — Intermediate
Throat Chop — Intermediate
Shadow Claw — Beginner
Roselia (Previously Budew)
Stage: Apprentice → Veteran
Talent Color: Blue
Move Expertise:
Absorb — Intermediate
Growth — Advanced
Stun Spore — Advanced
Mega Drain — Advanced
Energy Ball — Intermediate
Aromatherapy — Beginner
Golbat (Previously Zubat)
Stage: Youth → Apprentice
Talent Color: Purple
Move Expertise:
Leech Life — Advanced
Supersonic — Advanced
Astonish — Intermediate
Gust — Advanced
Bite — Intermediate
Air Cutter — Intermediate
U-turn — Beginner
Poison Fang — Beginner
Ponyta
Stage: Youth → Apprentice
Talent Color: Blue
Move Expertise:
Ember — Beginner
Quick Attack — Beginner
Tackle — Beginner
Agility — Advanced
Flame Wheel — Advanced
High Horsepower — Intermediate
Double Kick — Beginner
Riolu
Stage: Child → Youth
Talent Color: Purple
Move Expertise:
Quick Attack — Advanced
Growl — Intermediate
Force Palm — Advanced
Metal Claw — Intermediate
Blaze Kick — Intermediate
Vacuum Wave — Beginner