The path from Verdanturf to Route 117 stretched under a warm midday sun, framed by rustling bushes and blooming wildflowers. Small flocks of Swablu drifted lazily overhead, their soft cotton-like wings blending into the clouds.
Joseph walked in silence, hands in his pockets, his Eevee trailing just behind him. Steven, a few paces ahead, had a sketchpad open, occasionally scribbling notes and rock samples from the roadside.
"Still taking notes on soil types?" Joseph asked, glancing down as Eevee playfully batted a passing flower.
Steven didn't look up. "It's called observational geology. You wouldn't understand."
"I understood enough to dodge your Rock Slide back in Mauville," Joseph teased.
Eevee snorted as if laughing, then darted off the path to chase a Ledyba fluttering by.
The sun filtered through swaying trees as Route 117 opened into gentle, winding fields. The peace here felt deliberate, like the land itself wanted to stay untouched by ambition or war.
And yet…
Joseph stopped walking.
Something tingled at the edge of his awareness.
He turned slowly toward a tree-shaded corner of the field, where an elderly man knelt in front of a shrine—a tiny, moss-covered monument almost lost beneath time and grass.
Joseph's voice was soft. "Steven. Do you see that?"
Steven glanced up, frowned, then approached.
The Shrine
The man was humming quietly, hands folded in prayer before the miniature shrine—a weathered carving of Celebi made from forest stone, half-covered in vines.
Joseph waited until the prayer ended before speaking.
"Excuse me, sir… is that a Celebi shrine?"
The old man looked up. His eyes were gentle, pale with age, and his expression was calm.
"It is. This one's old. Older than this route, even. Used to be buried in trees before the fields opened up."
Steven crouched beside Joseph, studying the stone. "It's beautifully preserved."
"I clean it every morning," the man said. "Not for worship. Just for memory."
Joseph tilted his head. "Memory?"
The man smiled faintly. "Long ago, when I was just a boy, this shrine was part of the forest. People believed it could call the Voice of the Forest. But that's just legend."
Joseph's eyes narrowed. "Did you ever see Celebi?"
A pause. Then a soft chuckle.
"No. But I did see something strange once. The shrine lit up green at midnight, and all the flowers bloomed at once." He laughed, shaking his head. "Maybe it was just a dream. Maybe not."
Joseph stared at the stone for a long moment, then reached into his bag and removed a small vial. He knelt and poured a few drops of his homemade nutrient blend onto the base of the shrine—part of the same mix he'd used on Roselia back in Verdanturf.
The moss at the base immediately brightened, glowing faintly with a shimmer of emerald green.
Steven blinked. "That's…"
The old man just smiled again. "Thank you, travelers. The forest remembers kindness, even when people forget."
He stood slowly, bowed, and walked off toward the distant hills, cane tapping gently against the stone.
Joseph stood up slowly.
"I'm starting to think we attract more than just trouble," Steven said.
"Or maybe this world just needs a little more attention," Joseph replied.
The Trainer Couple
Later that afternoon, as the sun dipped lower and the Route 117 daycare center came into view, the brothers paused for lunch beneath a cluster of berry trees. Eevee curled up beside Joseph while Steven nibbled on a sandwich.
Then came the sound of footsteps and giggles.
"Look, I told you it was them!"
Two trainers—a young couple in matching outfits—ran up, clearly excited.
"You're the Stone brothers, right? Steven and Joseph?"
Joseph sighed. "That depends. Are you here for a selfie or a battle?"
Steven smirked. "You'd be surprised how often it's both."
The girl trainer smiled shyly. "Actually… we'd like a double battle. Just for fun. We're heading toward Rustboro for our first Gym, but we wanted to test ourselves."
The boy added, "We've never faced anyone famous before. Or semi-famous."
Joseph exchanged a glance with Steven.
"Well," Joseph said, stretching, "you're in luck. We're semi-bored."
The Battle in the Field
The match took place in the open clearing, watched only by passing Poochyena and the rustle of distant flowers.
The couple sent out Beautifly and Kirlia, both confident and coordinated.
Steven released his trusted Aron, while Joseph smiled and gave Eevee a gentle tap on the head.
"Time to shine, partner."
Eevee bounded into the field, her sleek silver fur shimmering in the sun, her tail twitching with anticipation.
The match began fast.
Kirlia moved first, launching a Confusion aimed at Aron, but Steven's partner blocked it with Iron Defense, the shimmer of metal absorbing the blow.
Beautifly circled above, scattering Stun Spore toward Eevee.
Joseph whispered, "Double Team."
In an instant, three copies of Eevee blurred into view, darting apart with incredible speed. The spores drifted through one illusion, then another.
"Quick Attack."
Eevee flashed across the field, striking Beautifly from below in a blur of silver, causing it to tumble through the air.
Steven called, "Metal Claw!"
Aron lunged forward, claws glowing, slamming into Kirlia before it could teleport away.
The couple tried to recover, switching strategies, combining a Silver Wind with a boosted Psybeam—but the siblings responded effortlessly.
Joseph murmured, "Baton Pass."
Eevee retreated into her Poké Ball in a gleam of light—only for a glowing red Poké Ball to replace it.
A flash of gold.
Gardevoir.
Level 100.
The moment she appeared, the air shimmered with psychic pressure.
Joseph nodded once.
Gardevoir raised her hands—and the incoming attacks simply froze in place.
Then shattered.
The battle ended a moment later.
Aftermath and Admiration
The couple sat in the grass, stunned but laughing.
"That was insane," the boy said.
Steven helped them up. "You two coordinate well. You just need more type coverage and better speed balance."
Joseph nodded. "Train with what you love, but learn to counter what you fear."
The girl grinned. "I've never seen an Eevee move like that. Was that from… special training?"
Joseph just smiled.
"You could say I've had a lot of time to train."
Evening Reflections
That night, they camped beside a small creek just before the turnoff to Rustboro. The water bubbled quietly, and the stars gleamed like diamonds.
Steven leaned against his sleeping bag, arms folded.
"You know," he said, "you could've used your Metagross."
"I know."
"But you used Gardevoir. Why?"
Joseph looked at the sky.
"Because people fear the unknown. But they admire the beautiful."
He didn't elaborate. Didn't need to.
Eevee curled at his side, already asleep.
And somewhere far beyond, high above Hoenn, a shimmer of green light passed through the clouds, unseen.
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