The lingering weight of the Fire Shrine hung heavy over the group as Isabelle, Collin, and their Pokémon trudged through the rocky trails of Hot Springs Pass. The volcanic terrain stretched ahead, dotted with steam vents and shimmering pools of water. Every so often, Isabelle adjusted her bag, trying to ignore the faint hum of energy radiating from the Mind Plate nestled inside.

  It wasn’t loud—more like a soft pressure, a distant whisper tickling at the back of her mind. But it was there. Always there. Occasionally, she’d feel a flicker of something... not a thought, exactly, but a nudge. As if the Plate was trying to echo something she hadn’t quite said aloud.

  Azzy bounced alongside her, tail swinging in tune with her steps. The little Azurill let out occasional chirps of excitement, her eyes often darting to Isabelle’s bag. If she wasn’t mistaken, Azzy seemed unusually interested in the plate.

  “What’s with you, Missy?” Isabelle muttered under her breath, giving Azzy a curious glance. “It’s just a weird piece of rock—or plate, or cosmic plate of doom. Probably useless.”

  “Useless?!” Collin, who had been walking a few paces ahead, turned with wide eyes. “That’s a fragment of Arceus’ power! It’s anything but useless! Do you have any idea what this means?”

  “Yeah, it means I’m carrying something I didn’t ask for, didn’t want, and don’t have the faintest clue how to use,” Isabelle grumbled. “So far, it’s just humming at me and attracting weird vibes.”

  She didn’t say anything about the flicker she felt earlier—when she could’ve sworn a whisper passed through her like a breeze, something like “It sees you.” She chalked it up to the heat. Or exhaustion. Or maybe her own mind playing tricks.

  Still... she had the strangest sense she wasn’t quite alone in her own head.

  Collin ignored her sarcasm, his enthusiasm undeterred. “You don’t get it, Isabelle! This could be part of something huge. There are stories—forums online—about trainers coming across relics like this, tied to the legendaries. If the plates are real, it confirms everything about the legends surrounding Arceus.”

  “Fantastic. Go write a book about it,” Isabelle shot back, kicking a loose rock on the path. “Me? I just want to get out of this fiery death zone alive and maybe find a bed that isn’t made of volcanic ash.”

  Rotom zipped out of her Pokédex, its screen flickering with excitement. “Fiery death zone? Dramatic much, partner? But hey, I’ve been thinking. What if we call this phenomenon—drumroll, please—‘The Fire Shrine Enigma’? Snazzy, right?”

  “Sure, Rotom. Real snazzy,” Isabelle replied dryly, earning a playful chirp from Azzy.

  Collin laughed. “I like it. We could make a whole series out of this. Documenting shrines, plates, and their connections to the legendaries.”

  Rotom spun in a delighted circle. “Finally, someone with vision! You see it too, don’t you, Collin? This is podcast material—‘Rotom Reports: Unsolved Pokémon Mysteries.’ Episode one: The Fire Shrine Enigma.”

  “Okay, you’re both nerds,” Isabelle muttered, shaking her head.

  The trail grew steeper as they pressed on, the air thick with heat and the faint smell of sulfur...

  ...“Poliwag: the Tadpole Pokémon. Those tails? Semi-transparent and used for balance while swimming! Cute, right?”

  “Adorable,” Isabelle muttered. “Can we keep walking, or are you setting up a nature documentary?”

  As they moved forward, the landscape hummed with a quiet energy—not just geothermal, but something else, something deeper. Isabelle’s thoughts drifted, unbidden, toward things she didn’t want to think about. Plates. Shrines. And the rumors.

  Team Eclipse.

  Collin had mentioned them in passing, back in Cinder Hollow. But now? She couldn’t stop thinking about how the Fire Shrine’s energy felt… watched. What if someone else had felt it too? She didn’t know much about Team Eclipse yet—just whispers about a splinter group, dangerous tech, and some madwoman with a ghost-type fixation. Still, word was one of their top commanders had been sighted heading near Blazebrook Caverns.

  The same place they were going.

  She swallowed hard. It was probably a coincidence. Probably.

  As the group stopped near a cluster of hot springs to rest, Isabelle dug into her berry pouch. “Might as well figure out which of these Azzy actually likes,” she muttered, pulling out the Oran, Cherri, and Pecha berries she’d been given.

  Azzy hopped closer, her eyes lighting up as Isabelle sliced the berries into smaller pieces with her pocketknife. “Here, try this,” Isabelle said, holding out a piece of Oran berry. Azzy sniffed it, then nibbled tentatively before bouncing happily, her tail wagging.

  “Well, that’s a hit,” Isabelle said, chuckling. She tried the Cherri berry next, but Azzy recoiled slightly, letting out a disgruntled squeak.

  “Not a fan of spicy,” Isabelle noted, tossing the piece aside. “Alright, Pecha. Let’s see if you’re the winner.”

  Azzy tasted the Pecha berry and chirped enthusiastically, her tail swishing in delight. Isabelle smiled, relieved to see her partner so happy. “Sweet tooth, huh? Just like me.”

  Collin watched the exchange with interest. “It’s always fascinating how different Pokémon have such distinct preferences. Pancham, you want to try?” He offered a piece of Oran berry to Pancham, who grabbed it eagerly and munched away.

  Rotom hovered nearby, recording everything. “Berry preferences logged! This data is invaluable for trainer strategies and Pokémon care. Shall we send it to Professor Ardene?”

  Isabelle groaned, leaning back against a rock. “Can we at least get to the city first? I’ve had enough ancient shrines, wild Pokémon, and existential crises for one week.”

  Collin, however, looked thoughtful. “I’ve never contacted a Professor before. Do you think she’d answer questions about all this? The shrine, the plate, even Rotom?”

  Rotom puffed up proudly. “You think the Professor is smarter than me? Hah! I’m leagues ahead—except for maybe Professor Oak. That guy’s a legend.”

  Isabelle rolled her eyes. “Alright, alright. You’re the smartest Pokédex, and the Professor can’t hold a candle to you. Can we go now?”

  The group trudged onward, the trail growing steeper as the rocky terrain turned more unforgiving. Steam hissed from hidden vents, sending bursts of humid air swirling around their ankles. Azzy bounced at Isabelle’s side, her tiny body trembling with excitement despite the grueling pace. Pancham followed suit, occasionally mimicking its trainer’s determined stride. Collin adjusted his jacket and wiped his brow, while Isabelle pushed forward with the kind of rhythm you only got from being utterly, cosmically done with everything.

  Collin, ever the chatterbox, was in full swing. “I mean, think about it. If the Mind Plate is real—and it is—that means there are others out there. What if we’re on the verge of some huge discovery? Like connecting the dots to Arceus’ lore? That’s not just any story, Isabelle. That’s the story.”

  “Sure,” Isabelle muttered, sidestepping a loose rock. “And maybe while we’re at it, we’ll stumble into a hidden city made of gold. You keep dreaming, Professor Pokémon Forums.”

  “Harsh,” Collin said, grinning. “But c’mon, what we saw back there wasn’t ordinary. A shrine pulsing with fire energy? A literal god-plate humming like a damn engine? This is the kind of stuff trainers live for.”

  “Dream about?” Isabelle snapped. “This is the stuff that gives me nightmares, Collin. Because now I’m hauling a literal piece of Pokémon mythology in my bag, and I don’t even know why. I didn’t sign up for divine scavenger hunts—I just wanted to travel, maybe earn a badge or two, not get drafted into some cosmic pissing contest between ancient deities.”

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  As she spoke, her hand brushed the side of her bag. Her fingers grazed the fabric near the Plate—warm and smooth, with a faint thrum just beneath the surface. A strange pulse zipped through her arm like static clinging to her skin. She froze.

  Then it came again.

  A whisper. Faint, echoing. Her own voice, but… not.

  “You’re not ready yet.”

  Isabelle blinked. Her breath hitched. Azzy paused beside her, tail curling slightly as the little Azurill gave a soft, concerned chirp.

  Not again.

  She’d been getting these flashes ever since the Fire Shrine—slippery, half-formed thoughts that felt like they came from a version of herself one step to the left of reality. Whispers that didn’t quite belong. A pressure in her chest. A flicker at the edge of her vision. She’d blamed it on stress. Heat. Maybe she was just overthinking it?

  Now it felt like something was watching her from inside her own head. And it was getting bolder.

  Before she could spiral further, Rotom popped out of her Pokédex with a dramatic whirr, its screen flickering to life in a swirl of light. “Ohhh, partner, you wound me!” it said, doing a little midair somersault. “Don’t you see it? You’re living history in the making! Embrace the chaos! Let’s call it... drumroll please—‘The Great Virelia Saga!’”

  Collin’s eyes lit up. “Ooh! That’s catchy. Episode one: Shrine of Fire and Mental Breakdown!”

  “Episode two,” Rotom chirped, “Girl Haunted by Ghosts of Her Own Brain! Now with 300% more podcast-worthy angst!”

  Isabelle groaned, dragging a hand down her face. “You’re both insufferable. And if either of you actually try to record this shit and post it online, I swear I’ll throw the Plate in a volcano and take you both with it.”

  Rotom hovered backwards dramatically. “Ouch! Spicy! Love the passion!”

  Collin just laughed, unfazed. “You can’t deny it though—this is big. It’s not just about battling anymore. Something’s happening. With you. With the Plates. I think we’re at the edge of something massive.”

  Isabelle didn’t answer right away. The wind kicked up, carrying the scent of sulfur and ash down from the mountain ahead. Steam curled from a nearby vent like a ghost slipping past her ankle.

  She looked down at Azzy, who stayed close, eyes wide and steady.

  “Yeah,” she muttered finally. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

  The conversation shifted as the two fell into a natural rhythm of walking and talking. Collin glanced at Isabelle, his curiosity piqued. “So, what got you into this? The whole trainer journey thing, I mean.”

  Isabelle hesitated, adjusting the strap of her bag. “I guess… it’s complicated,” she said. “I’m from Verdantia. It’s a quiet, rural place—not much happens there. My dad took a job in Lumora City when I was a kid, so I spent most of my time bouncing between a small farm and a city apartment. Guess that left me somewhere in the middle of both worlds.”

  She hesitated, her gaze flicking to the horizon. Lumora City feels so far away now. The neon lights of Starlight Heights, the buzz of transport lines and food carts. And Amélie—goddess, Amélie would be loving all this volcanic nonsense. Probably already theorizing what outfits she could wear to match the terrain. Isabelle nearly pulled out her VireBand. Nearly.

  But the thought of reaching out twisted something cold in her chest. What would she even say? She sucked at texting. And even worse at explaining why she ghosted people for weeks.

  Collin nodded, listening intently. “So, you’ve got the best of both, right?”

  She shrugged, her gaze fixed on the trail ahead. “Something like that. I’m doing this… I guess for me. Trying to figure stuff out. I needed to get out of the city, clear my head. Not that I planned for any of this shrine nonsense.”

  Collin smiled softly. “Fair enough. At least you’ve got Azzy by your side.”

  “Yeah,” Isabelle said, her tone softening as she glanced at the bouncing Azurill. “Azzy’s been with me through everything. I wouldn’t even be out here without her.”

  “What about your friends?” Collin asked. “Do they know you’re doing this?”

  “Friends?” Isabelle snorted. “Sure, I’ve got them. The Orbital Clique—they’re great. But keeping in touch? That’s... not exactly my strong suit.”

  Collin chuckled. “I get that. I’m bad at it too, but mostly because I’m always out here, away from, well, everything. Emberleaf Village doesn’t exactly have strong cell service.”

  She smirked. “Figures you’d be a farm boy.”

  “And you’re what? City girl with a potty mouth?” he teased.

  “Pretty much,” Isabelle admitted, grinning despite herself. “But don’t get used to it. I’m still not convinced you’re not some over-caffeinated nerd in disguise.”

  “Guilty as charged,” Collin replied with a laugh.

  The landscape began to shift as they crested a hill, the distant outline of Blazebrook City coming into view. The sky above the city was tinged with a faint haze of volcanic smoke, giving the horizon a fiery glow. Isabelle felt a wave of relief wash over her at the sight of civilization, her aching muscles almost crying in gratitude.

  Her VireBand buzzed, cutting through the quiet moment. Isabelle’s steps faltered as she glanced at the screen, her father’s name glowing softly. She hesitated for a beat, her thumb hovering over the accept button.

  Collin stopped beside her, noticing her hesitation. “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah,” Isabelle mumbled, pressing the button to answer. She held the device to her ear, her voice soft but steady. “Hey, Dad.”

  “Hey, kiddo!” émile’s warm voice filled the air, and Isabelle couldn’t help but relax, the tension in her shoulders easing. “I was starting to wonder if you’d gone off-grid. How’s the adventure? You’re still alive, I hope?”

  “Barely,” Isabelle muttered, her tone dry but affectionate. She glanced at Collin, who arched a curious brow. “It’s been… a trip. Let’s leave it at that.”

  émile’s laughter was a comforting sound, deep and genuine. “That’s my girl. Always the optimist. ‘A trip,’ huh? Sounds like you’re having more fun than you’re letting on.”

  “Fun isn’t exactly the word I’d use,” Isabelle replied, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. “More like… exhausting. And confusing. But, you know, I’m still here.”

  émile’s tone softened. “Something good or something I should worry about?”

  “Good,” Isabelle answered quickly, though her voice wavered slightly. She kicked at a loose rock on the path, her eyes fixed on the horizon. “I’m handling it.”

  “Alright,” émile said, his voice steady but filled with concern. “You know you can call anytime, right? Even if you just need to yell about something—or someone. I don’t care what time it is.”

  “I know,” Isabelle said softly. She felt a lump rise in her throat but pushed it down. “Thanks, Dad. I’ll call you when I reach Blazebrook, okay?”

  “Deal,” émile said, his warmth cutting through the static. “Take care of yourself. And give Azzy a pat for me. I’m proud of you, you know that, right?”

  Isabelle’s grip on the VireBand tightened as her chest ached faintly at his words. “Yeah,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I know. Thanks.”

  As the call ended, she lingered with the band in her hand, thumb grazing the edge of the screen. A familiar guilt stirred—she hadn’t replied to Amélie’s last message. Or the one before that. Or the group selfie from the Orbital Clique’s last rooftop hangout. She should text. She really should.

  Instead, she just slipped the device away. Maybe later. When it didn’t feel like the world was falling on her.

  Collin waited nearby, his curious gaze softened by patience.

  “Family?” he asked, his voice gentle.

  “Yeah,” Isabelle replied, slipping the VireBand back into her pocket. She adjusted her bag and started walking again, her steps measured. “My dad. He’s good people.”

  Collin walked alongside her in silence for a moment, then ventured cautiously, “You two seem close.”

  “We are,” Isabelle said simply, though her voice carried an undertone of hesitation. “It’s just… complicated. I’m not great at keeping in touch.”

  “Join the club,” Collin said with a chuckle. “I’ve got three siblings, and I think I’ve called home, like, twice since I left Emberleaf.”

  Isabelle glanced at him, her lips curving into a wry smile. “Three siblings? Let me guess—they’re all trainers too?”

  “Nope. Farmers,” Collin replied, his grin widening. “I’m the oddball who left the farm. Guess that makes us both the black sheep, huh?”

  “Story of my life,” Isabelle muttered, her voice tinged with humor. “Except I didn’t leave a farm—I left… I don’t know. A whole life I don’t think I fit into.”

  Collin nodded thoughtfully. “I get that. But hey, you’ve got Azzy, and now you’ve got a… what’d you call it? A ‘cosmic plate of doom’?”

  Isabelle groaned. “Don’t remind me.”

  Their laughter echoed briefly against the rugged hills, a small moment of levity in the otherwise intense journey. Azzy chirped happily, bouncing along beside them, her energy a constant source of comfort.

  As the volcanic terrain began to flatten, the cityscape of Blazebrook grew more distinct. Steam and ash curled lazily into the sky, blending with the fiery glow of the setting sun. Isabelle let out a long breath, her shoulders sagging slightly in relief.

  “Finally,” she muttered. “Real beds, real food, and maybe—just maybe—something that doesn’t want to kill me.”

  Rotom popped out of the Pokédex, its screen flickering with exaggerated enthusiasm. “Oh, partner, you’re not out of the woods yet! Or should I say, the hot springs. Blazebrook’s a whole new frontier! Think of the data we’ll collect!”

  “Yeah, no thanks,” Isabelle shot back. “I’ve had enough ‘frontier’ for one lifetime.”

  Collin grinned, adjusting his bag as Pancham shadowboxed beside him. “Blazebrook City, here we come. You ready, Isabelle?”

  She glanced at him, then at Azzy, who bounced on her tail with excitement. Despite herself, Isabelle smiled faintly. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  Their laughter echoed briefly against the rugged hills, a small moment of levity in the otherwise intense journey.

  But deep down, Isabelle knew something was shifting. In her. In the air around them. In the weight of that damn Plate humming at her back.

  Blazebrook wasn’t just another city. Not anymore.

  Bubble, Tail Whip, Bubblebeam, Bounce (Potential: Water Gun, Charm, Helping Hand, Slam, Aqua Tail real development required)

  Arm Thrust, Circle Throw, Bullet Punch, Tackle, Work Up, Leer, Karate Chop, Taunt, Vital Throw, Slash

  Things are heating up everywhere now, ancient plates, volcanic trails, and a psychic whisper that may or may not be Isabelle's brain betraying her. Our girl's not catching a break anytime soon. Stay tuned for Blazebrook City—where rest is a lie.