“Ugh…” Aidan groaned, and his eyes fluttered open.
Where am I?
Shaking his head, Aidan slowly sat up and looked around at his very unfamiliar surroundings. He looked to be inside a very large, canvas tent. He was lying on a small futon, surrounded by tables filled with archaic-looking scientific instruments. A handful of ancient-looking Apricorn Poke Balls were strewn across another table, along with an antique lantern with a small flame burning inside.
“Oh!” A strangely familiar voice spoke up, “You’re awake!”
Aidan looked up, seeing a young woman walk through the opening of the tent, carrying a bowl full of water. She was dressed in a turquoise blue tunic and pants, with a pair of sandals and leggings wrapped around her calves. A leather bag was tied around her waist, and a white cloth was tied around her long, black hair. Her bright blue eyes twinkled.
“How are you feeling?” the girl asked.
Aidan didn’t answer. He stared back at the girl in shock. She looked exactly like...
“The Security Corps found you passed out in the forest,” the girl continued, not noticing Aidan’s shock. “You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”
“...Tia?”
The girl looked back at him strangely. “You were calling out that name in your sleep all night. Someone important to you?”
Aidan nodded.
“I’m Midori, by the way.”
“Aidan.”
Midori smirked, looking so much like Tia that it made Aidan’s stomach flip. “What a weird name,” she said. “You’re not from around here, are you?”
Aidan shook his head.
“Don’t worry, no one in Camp Azalea is either.”
Aidan frowned, and Midori continued. “This is an exploration camp. We’re studying the plants and Pokemon in the forest, and determining if this is a good spot for a new village. We’ve been here for about a year.”
Exploration camp? New village?
“When…” Aidan croaked out.
Midori stopped talking and looked back at him. “Hmm?”
“What year… is it…?”
Midori stated the year, and it immediately set Aidan’s mind reeling.
It was almost 150 years in the past.
Midori noticed Aidan’s stricken expression. “Are you okay?” she asked, worried.
Aidan spent a few moments in sheer panic, then took a deep breath, willing himself to relax. He looked back at Midori, who was staring at him with concern.
“Should I get the medic?” Midori asked.
“No…” Aidan answered, “I was just…”
“You must have hit your head pretty hard, if you forgot what year it is,” Midori said, sitting down next to Aidan. She reached out and laid her hand on his forehead. “You don’t seem to have a fever.”
Aidan pushed the blanket off of him and started to get up until his legs wobbled.
“Hold on,” Midori sprang up and grabbed him by the arms. “Take it easy!”
Aidan managed to stand up straight, then looked down at himself. He was dressed in the same turquoise pants and tunic Midori was wearing.
“The medic changed your clothes after the Security Corps brought you in,” Midori replied, answering his unspoken question. “You were dressed pretty strangely for someone hiking in the forest!”
“My Pokemon…” Aidan murmured.
“You mean these?” Midori walked over to a table on the far side of the tent and lifted a belt with six Poke Balls attached to it. “I’ve never seen Poke Balls like these before,” she mused, handing them to Aidan. “They’re all smooth and seamless – not like the Poke Balls we make here in the camp.” She thought a moment. “I know the Galaxy Team in Hisui has been experimenting with new ways to make them. You’re not from Hisui, are you?”
Aidan shook his head.
“Hmm. Somewhere else, then,” Midori concluded. She looked a little distant. “I could have joined the Galaxy Team as their Poke Ball specialist, before they journeyed to Hisui, but my folks didn’t want me to go so far away.” She frowned. “So I ended up here.”
Aidan smiled inwardly. She was definitely Tia’s ancestor – always talking about Poke Balls to everyone she met.
“But it’s not like I don’t like it here!” Midori spoke up, “I mean, I still get to make and research Poke Balls, and teach other people how to make them. It’s just…”
“You’re just mourning a lost opportunity,” Aidan answered.
“Exactly!” Midori’s eyes lit up. Then she shook her head in embarrassment. “What am I doing, talking about my business to a complete stranger?” She looked back at Aidan. “I’m sorry. I must be boring you!”
Aidan shook his head. “Not at all.”
They were interrupted by a series of cries and shouts outside the tent.
“What’s going on?” Aidan asked.
“I’m not sure,” Midori replied. She walked over to the tent entrance and poked her head outside, while Aidan did the same.
The shouts grew louder, and a group of trees at the far end of the camp rattled. Three men, members of the Security Corps, scrambled out of the trees, looking dirty and bedraggled.
“The Ursaluna!” one man shouted, “It’s back!”
“It’s headed straight for the camp!” another man screeched.
The camp grew more restless as the alarm was raised, and the third man called out through the camp. “Everyone inside the tents! Pick up any weapon you can find and stay clear of the entrances! Anyone who can wield Pokemon, follow the Security Corps!”
“There’s been a wild Ursaluna terrorizing the camp lately,” Midori said tightly, sealing off the tent entrance and moving toward the back. “I don’t understand why – it’s the middle of winter, and the Ursas should be hibernating by now…” She looked around, then picked up a long, iron bar.
“An Ursaluna…?” Aidan asked faintly.
“Don’t just stand there!” Midori grabbed Aidan’s hand and yanked him toward the back of the tent. They crouched on the ground in one of the far corners of the tent and waited, as the entire camp grew silent.
Suddenly, a loud, deafening roar echoed through the camp, followed by heavy, trudging footsteps. Then, there was the unmistakable sound of Pokemon being summoned from their Balls, and their Trainers giving them commands.
The air was filled with the sounds of battle, along with the roars and footsteps of the Ursaluna. But eventually, the noises quieted down as the Pokemon seemed to be defeated, one by one.
“There’s only a few of us in Camp Azalea who can wield Pokemon,” Midori whispered, “But the Ursaluna is so strong, none of our Pokemon are a match against it. We’re at a loss.” She glanced over at the tent entrance, her grip tightening on the iron bar.
The Ursaluna roared again, and the tent entrance was suddenly ripped open as it barreled inside.
Aidan stared at the Ursaluna in awe. It was massive, towering over the tables inside the tent, with hulking, muscular limbs and shaggy brown fur. Its eyes glowed a menacing red.
An Alpha Ursaluna…
Midori whipped the iron bar in front of her. “Stay back!” she shouted. “D-don’t come any closer!” Her arms shook.
Aidan stood up, holding out an arm to stop Midori. “Let me take care of this,” he said.
“W-what are you doing?” Midori stammered.
Aidan walked slowly toward the Ursaluna, pulling a Poke Ball from the belt on his waist and expanding it. He stared directly into the Ursaluna’s eyes, seeing the rage and power there, then threw the Poke Ball.
“Tatra!” Aidan called out. The Poke Ball opened to reveal his Tyranitar.
Midori’s eyes widened. “No way…” she whispered.
“Use Earthquake!” Aidan shouted. The ground began to shake as shock waves flowed from Tatra toward the Ursaluna and enveloped it. The Ursaluna roared as the bone-crushing quake shook its body. It staggered back, shaking its head and growling.
“Crunch!” Aidan commanded next. Tatra rushed toward the Ursaluna and clamped his jaws around the Ursaluna’s leg. The Ursaluna roared in pain and thrashed about, trying to shake Tatra off. With a powerful swipe, the Ursaluna slammed a paw into Tatra’s head, causing him to let go, skidding across the ground and crashing into a table.
“Tatra!” Aidan shouted. Tatra picked himself off the ground and roared. “Hyper Beam!”
A bright, brilliant light beam fired from Tatra’s mouth, striking the Ursaluna directly. The Ursaluna landed on its side and skidded across the ground, tumbling out of the tent and into the open. For a moment, it lay still. Then it slowly picked itself off the ground, staggering. It gave one final roar, then turned around and ran.
There were cheers throughout the camp as the Ursaluna escaped into the trees. Midori walked over to Aidan and Tatra, staring at them in awe.
“Just… who are you?” she asked softly.
Aidan looked up at Tatra, stroked his head, and recalled him back to his Poke Ball. Then Aidan looked back at Midori. “Just someone who cares about Pokemon. That’s all.”
There was a sudden commotion, and a grizzled, well-built man with graying hair and a white coat made his way toward Aidan. “What’s this I hear about someone driving away the Ursaluna?” he bellowed.
“This young man, sir,” one of the Security Corps spoke up. “He and his Pokemon battled the Ursaluna and drove it away!”
“Is that so?” The old man looked Aidan up and down. “Haven’t seen you around here before. You new?”
“I… uh…” Aidan murmured.
“We found him knocked out in the forest,” another Security Corps member said. “We were going to tell you sooner, but the Ursaluna…”
The old man nodded, then turned to Aidan. “Well, my boy, you have our thanks. I’m Professor Wisteria, the leader of this fine establishment. Nice to meet you.”
Aidan took his hand. “I’m Aidan.”
“So what brings you out here to the middle of nowhere?”
Aidan winced. “That’s… a long story. I’m not sure you’d believe it.”
“Oh, try me,” Professor Wisteria said, thumping Aidan on the back. “We can talk over dinner.”
“So you’re investigating the local legends about the forest’s protector…” Professor Wisteria said.
Aidan nodded. “I was working with my partner and a local Poke Ball maker. The forest was restless, and when we investigated the shrine of the forest’s protector, we encountered the legendary Pokemon, Celebi.”
Midori sat up. “You saw Celebi?” she asked, eyes wide.
“It just showed up all of a sudden, and… I don’t know... something it did made me pass out.” Aidan frowned. “And the next thing I knew, I was here.”
Professor Wisteria thought a moment. “Celebi is known to wander across time. Perhaps…” His eyes narrowed. “This may sound like a strange question, but what year are you from?”
“Oh, yeah…” Midori put in, “you did ask me what year it was when you woke up!”
Aidan told them the year, which made both of them gasp in surprise.
“What!?” Midori shouted, “That’s almost 150 years into the future!” She thought a moment. “But it makes sense. Your clothes when the Security Corps found you. Your Poke Balls.”
“I’m not sure why Celebi brought me here,” Aidan said, “Maybe there’s something I need to do.”
“Well, considering you drove away the Ursaluna so easily,” Midori said, “maybe you were brought here to help with that!”
Professor Wisteria let out a sigh. “Speaking of that,” he said, “we may have driven it away for now, but it’s sure to come back once it’s recovered. And it’ll keep coming back, no matter how many times we drive it away.”
“There must be something we can do about it,” Midori mused.
Aidan thought for a moment, looking over at Midori. Her pensive look was so much like Tia’s, it gave him an idea. “Why not try to catch it?”
Both Midori and Professor Wisteria looked at him like he had grown a second head. “Catch it?” Midori said skeptically. “I don’t think there’s a Poke Ball in existence that could catch that thing!”
“Couldn’t you make one that can?” Aidan asked.
Midori opened her mouth to answer, then stopped to think. “Well… let’s see.” She thought some more, then her eyes lit up. “Wait a minute…” She got up and walked over to a table piled high with books, pulling out a thick, bulging notebook.
“This is the Pokedex from the Hisui region,” Midori said, opening the book and flipping through the pages. “Apparently, there’s a member of the Galaxy Team who’s a hotshot researcher and gathered information on all kinds of Pokemon. And I believe…” She flipped more pages. “Yes! The Teddiursa line was part of it!” She read through a page or two.
“So Ursaluna evolves from Ursaring under a full moon, when exposed to something called a peat block.”
“Peat blocks are blocks of dried mud that have been exposed to moonlight,” Professor Wisteria said.
“And yellow Apricorns are said to grow the best under the moonlight,” Midori added. “If I can forge a connection between the growth properties of yellow Apricorns and the evolution properties of Ursaluna…” She smiled. “I think I can do it!”
Professor Wisteria nodded. “How much time will you need?”
“A few days, give or take. I’ll need to test the capture rate on other Pokemon who evolve similarly.”
Aidan sighed. Listening to Midori talk about Poke Balls and capture rates reminded him so much of Tia it made his heart ache.
The sooner the Ursaluna was dealt with, the sooner he could go home.
At least, he hoped.