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At the silver-haired woman's command, Ariados didn't hesitate. Its mandibles clicked, and in an instant it unleashed a surge of psychic force.
The strike caught Ash completely off guard. With a sharp cry, he was hurled backwards, crashing over the railing and plunging into the canal below.
For a heartbeat, no one moved. Misty froze, Erika's breath caught in her throat, and Pikachu stood rooted to the spot, eyes wide with horror as its Trainer vanished into the water.
Ash surfaced moments later, coughing and dripping, fury flashing in his eyes. He hauled himself onto the bank and glared at the silver-haired thief.
"What's your problem?!" he shouted, his voice ragged.
The women only smirked, their disdain plain.
Ash clenched his fists, anger boiling over. "Fine. If that's how you want it Pikachu, go!"
"Pika!!" Pikachu launched forward, slamming into Ariados with a lightning-fast Tackle. The two Pokémon collided, and the battle erupted.
The blonde woman raised an elegant hand, her voice smooth and commanding. "Espeon, assist."
Her Pokémon leapt gracefully into the fray, its eyes glowing with psychic light. But before its attack could land, Kai stepped forward, releasing his own partner.
"Gardevoir—counter it."
The psychic clash that followed was invisible, but its pressure warped the air around them. Even without seeing the force, everyone could feel the raw power colliding, a silent storm in the air.
The blonde thief's gaze swept over the group, her expression chilling. "So. You insist on meddling."
Brock, Misty, and Erika didn't bother with words. Each hurled a Poké Ball into the air, their Pokémon materializing in flashes of light, standing shoulder to shoulder with Ash and Kai.
The battle raged, the thieves' Pokémon skilled and ruthless but against the combined strength of the group, they began to falter.
The thieves exchanged a sharp glance. The silver-haired woman snapped her fingers, vaulting into the speedboat as the engine roared to life.
The blonde whistled sharply; both Ariados and Espeon disengaged at once, springing back to their Trainers' side. Within seconds, the boat tore away down the canal, vanishing around a bend.
Ash stood panting, fists trembling with frustration.
"What—? They just ran?!" He splashed his soaked sleeves against his sides, caught between outrage and confusion. "After all that?!"
But when he turned, ready to check on the mysterious girl he had fought to protect, his words caught in his throat.
She was gone.
"Wait—what?!" Ash spun in circles, disbelief written all over his face. "When did she—?!"
Only the strands of Ariados' silk clinging to the bridge proved she had been there at all.
"Maybe she's shy," Kai offered, folding his arms. A sly grin tugged at his lips. "Still… not bad, Ash. That was almost heroic."
Misty crossed her arms, smirking. "I'll say. For once, he actually noticed a girl."
She sighed dramatically. "Too bad she left without a word. No thanks, no goodbye. Poor Ash."
"Don't say it like that!" Ash's face burned red as he waved his arms in protest. "I—I wasn't trying to impress her! She helped Pikachu first, and—come on, she was just a girl being attacked by Pokémon! What was I supposed to do, stand by?!"
"Sure, sure." Misty rolled her eyes with a grin. "We believe you."
By the time Ash wrung the water from his clothes, the mood had lightened. The group pressed on, leaving the canals behind as they entered the bustling city square.
Their destination loomed ahead: Alto Mare's grand cathedral. Part church, part museum, it was said to house the city's oldest relics, fossil specimens, and centuries of history.
Inside, the air grew hushed, reverent. Tourists moved quietly beneath towering stained-glass windows, their footsteps soft against polished stone.
On the floor lay the massive imprint of an Aerodactyl fossil, seamlessly set into the marble and reinforced with transparent glass.
"Whoa…" Brock whispered in awe. Then his brow furrowed. "But isn't it dangerous, walking on it like this?"
A warm, elderly voice answered from behind.
"Fear not, young man. Not only this Aerodactyl, but many other fossils here are preserved the same way treated and sealed under tempered glass. They are safe from harm."
They turned to see a stout, bald-headed man with a thick white beard approaching with a kindly smile. A badge pinned to his chest read: Bongley Tour Guide.
"If this is your first visit," Bongley said cheerfully, "allow me to show you around."
He led them deeper into the cathedral, pointing out more fossils embedded beneath their feet Kabutops, Omastar, and others from ages long past.
The sensation of literally walking over history gave the place a strange, almost otherworldly weight.
Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass panes, painting the marble floor in colors of crimson, gold, and sapphire.
They entered a vast circular chamber, and before them loomed a colossal machine. Its purpose was unclear, its steel frame rising more than ten meters high.
Four great supports held aloft a strange, orb-like core, gleaming faintly in the refracted light.
Brock spread his arms wide, tilting his head back into the glow. "Ahh… bathed in sunlight like this, I can feel destiny calling! Surely this is the city where I'll finally meet the love of my life beautiful, radiant, older sisters everywhere!"
The others ignored him. Kai stepped forward, gazing up at the steel construct with narrowed eyes.
The machine was massive, alien in design, and wrapped in mystery. Its strange orb seemed to pulse faintly, as if it held secrets of another age.
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