Ethan stared at the photograph.
The image was terrible.
Most of it was nothing but motion blur, darkness, and the occasional streak of light.
But there was one frame.
One frame where the creature had been visible for just long enough.
Four legs.
A long body.
A mane-like shape around its neck.
And glowing eyes.
It was blurry enough that nobody could identify it with certainty.
But it was clear enough to start an argument.
Ethan narrowed his eyes.
'That could be Umbreon.'
He immediately shook the thought away.
'No. Too big.'
Then something clicked in his head.
He looked toward the others.
"Hey, do you guys believe the legends about the three Pokémon that died in the Burned Tower?"
Bugsy looked at him.
"You mean the story about them becoming the Legendary Beasts?"
Ethan nodded.
"Yeah. But specifically the theory that they were Eeveelutions before they died."
Bugsy thought for a moment.
"That's actually a pretty popular theory."
He scratched his head.
"The problem is that there's no real evidence."
Erika looked up from the photograph.
"People have been arguing about it for generations."
Whitney leaned closer to the camera.
"Why Eeveelutions?"
Bugsy shrugged.
"Because Eevee has always been associated with unusual evolution."
He pointed at the blurry photograph.
"And the theory says that the three Pokémon were originally different Eeveelutions before Ho-Oh revived them."
Kitsu tilted her head.
"Which ones?"
Bugsy counted on his fingers.
"Well, that's where the arguments start."
He raised one finger.
"Some people say Jolteon became Raikou."
Another.
"Flareon became Entei."
Another.
"And Vaporeon became Suicune."
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
"That sounds pretty convincing."
Bugsy immediately shook his head.
"Until you look closer."
He pointed at the photograph again.
"The legends describe the three Pokémon as being reborn after the fire. They don't clearly say what they were before."
He paused.
"And there's another problem."
Ethan looked at him.
"What?"
Bugsy smiled awkwardly.
"Umbreon."
Everyone looked at him.
Bugsy continued.
"If the creatures were Eeveelutions, why would there only be three?"
Kitsu blinked.
"Because only three died?"
"Exactly."
Bugsy pointed at the image.
"But if that thing really is connected to the Legendary Beasts..."
He lowered his voice.
"Then someone has to explain why it looks nothing like Jolteon, Flareon, or Vaporeon."
Silence.
Ethan stared at the photograph.
'Because you guys don't know about the fourth one yet.'
His eyes narrowed.
'And even I don't know exactly what Yaozu is.'
He glanced toward the dark entrance of the Burned Tower.
Whatever they had encountered down there...
It wasn't normal.
And the photograph had only made things worse.
Whitney suddenly spoke.
"Wait."
Everyone looked at her.
She pointed at the photograph.
"If that's an Umbreon..."
She looked at Ethan.
"Then doesn't that mean the legend could be wrong?"
Ethan smiled faintly.
"Maybe."
Kitsu crossed her arms.
"Or maybe the legend isn't talking about three Pokémon."
Everyone stared at her.
Kitsu shrugged.
"We already know the story has holes."
Ethan's expression changed.
Because that was true.
They had already learned something the traditional legend didn't account for.
There had been a fourth Pokémon.
A Pokémon powerful enough to fight Marshtomp without even revealing its full strength.
A Pokémon capable of disappearing into shadows.
And somewhere beyond the reach of ordinary humans...
The Legendary Beasts had reacted to its presence.
Ethan looked back at the photograph.
'So what exactly happened in that tower 150 years ago?'
For the first time since arriving in Ecruteak City...
Ethan wasn't wondering whether the legend was true.
He was wondering how much of it was actually missing.
Morty had been quiet throughout the entire conversation.
Now he finally spoke.
"Can I take these photos?"
Lusamine looked at him.
She glanced at the camera, then at the young Gym Leader.
"You can."
Morty's eyes lit up.
"Thank you."
He carefully took the photographs from her, almost treating them like priceless artifacts.
"I can finally prove the existence of the Fourth Flame."
Ethan blinked.
"The Fourth Flame?"
Morty nodded.
"The fourth Pokémon."
He looked down at the blurry photograph.
"For years, everyone has talked about the three Legendary Beasts. Three Pokémon that died in the Burned Tower and were revived by Ho-Oh."
His grip tightened slightly around the photograph.
"But I've always believed there was another one."
Bugsy frowned.
"That's a pretty big claim."
Morty looked at him.
"I know."
Ethan crossed his arms.
"Do you think anyone will believe you?"
Morty smiled.
"I don't need them to."
Everyone went quiet.
Morty held up the photograph.
"I just need evidence."
He looked toward the Burned Tower.
"People can call it a mistake. A blurry photograph. A wild Pokémon. They can say whatever they want."
His eyes hardened with determination.
"But now I know I wasn't imagining it."
Ethan stared at him.
'This guy really is going to become Morty.'
Morty looked at the photograph again.
"The Fourth Flame exists."
He smiled.
"And someday, everyone will know it."
Ethan couldn't help but grin.
"Good luck."
Morty looked at him.
"I'll need it."
Whitney leaned toward Kitsu and whispered.
"He's really serious about this."
Kitsu nodded.
"Yeah."
She looked at Morty.
"I kind of like him."
Ethan sighed.
"Of course you do."
Kitsu looked at him.
"What?"
"Nothing."
After Morty left, Ethan immediately headed toward the Pokémon Center.
He wasn't interested in resting yet.
Tomorrow was going to be his Gym Battle.
And Kitsu's.
So there was one thing they needed to know.
Morty's team.
The two twins sat together while they went through the information they had managed to obtain about the young Gym Leader.
Kitsu looked at the list.
"Duskull."
She read the moves.
"Shadow Ball, Confuse Ray, Will-O-Wisp, and Shadow Sneak."
Ethan frowned.
"That's annoying."
Kitsu looked at him.
"Why?"
"Burn, confusion, priority, and a reliable Ghost-type attack."
He tapped the screen.
"That's not a Pokémon designed to just deal damage. It's designed to make the opponent screw up."
Kitsu nodded slowly.
Then she continued.
"Shuppet. Shadow Ball, Icy Wind, Swagger, and Embargo."
Ethan's expression became more serious.
"Swagger?"
"Yeah."
"That's worse."
Kitsu raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Because if it boosts our Attack while confusing us, we could end up hitting ourselves harder."
He sighed.
"And Embargo can shut down held items."
Kitsu stared at the list.
"Morty is annoying."
"Very."
She continued.
"Haunter. Shadow Ball, Hypnosis, Dream Eater, and Mean Look."
Ethan leaned back.
"There's the combo."
Kitsu looked at him.
"Hypnosis into Dream Eater?"
"Exactly."
He pointed at Mean Look.
"And if it traps us first, switching becomes impossible."
Kitsu groaned.
"So we can't just switch whenever something gets put to sleep."
"Not against that thing."
She moved down the list.
"Misdreavus. Shadow Ball, Power Gem, Will-O-Wisp, and Mean Look."
Ethan paused.
"Power Gem?"
"Yep."
"That's coverage."
He stared at the screen.
"He's covering weaknesses."
Kitsu nodded.
Then came the fifth Pokémon.
"Sableye. Recover, Shadow Claw, Torment, and Aerial Ace."
Ethan blinked.
"Aerial Ace?"
Kitsu shrugged.
"Apparently."
Ethan rubbed his chin.
"That's actually clever."
Kitsu looked confused.
"How?"
"Torment."
He pointed at the moveset.
"It can prevent us from repeatedly using the same move. And Recover gives it longevity."
He looked at Kitsu.
"Morty's team isn't built around raw power."
Kitsu slowly understood.
"It's built around disrupting us."
"Exactly."
She finally reached the last Pokémon.
"Gengar."
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
"Sitrus Berry."
Kitsu continued.
"Hypnosis, Shadow Ball, Giga Drain, and Thunderbolt."
The two of them stared at the screen.
Silence.
Kitsu finally spoke.
"That's disgusting."
Ethan nodded.
"Yeah."
He leaned back.
"That Gengar has answers for almost everything."
Kitsu counted them.
"Hypnosis for sleep."
"Shadow Ball for STAB."
"Giga Drain for Water- and Ground-types."
"Thunderbolt for Water-types and Flying-types."
She looked at Ethan.
"And the Sitrus Berry gives it extra longevity."
Ethan nodded.
"Exactly."
He looked down at his own Poké Balls.
'This isn't like Franklin.'
He remembered his battle against Silver.
His team was designed around switching.
Marshtomp had Water Gun, Mud Shot, Rock Slide, and Ice Punch.
Vesna had her own coverage.
His Pokémon were built to enter the field, hit something super effectively, then switch out when the matchup changed.
But Morty's team was different.
It wanted to punish exactly that kind of thinking.
Ethan slowly smiled.
"Well."
Kitsu looked at him.
"What?"
Ethan stood up.
"Looks like tomorrow is going to be fun."
Kitsu stared at him.
"You're enjoying this?"
"Absolutely."
He looked at the team list again.
"Because now we actually have to think."
Kitsu grinned.
"Then let's think."
The two twins leaned over the table.
Tomorrow wasn't going to be a simple battle.
It was going to be a battle of strategy.
And neither of them intended to walk out of the Ecruteak Gym without the Fog Badge.
The next day arrived.
Ethan, Kitsu, and the others made their way back to the Ecruteak Gym.
The moment the doors opened, they heard the sound of a battle.
"Shadow Ball!"
A black sphere of Ghost Energy flew across the battlefield.
The group stopped.
Morty was already battling another challenger.
Ethan's eyes immediately moved toward the girl standing on the other side of the field.
She had a tall, slim figure, silvery blue eyes, and long, wavy silvery blue hair that reached past her waist, with two long bangs framing her face.
Ethan froze.
'Oh.'
He stared at her.
'That's Karen.'
His eyes widened.
'That's Karen.'
He rubbed his forehead.
'Wait. Karen was twenty in my old life.'
His memories flashed back to the last time he had fought her.
That had been in 1999.
This was 1983.
He looked at her again.
'So she's what? Fourteen? Fifteen?'
He paused.
'Ah, fuck it. Calculating ages across two lifetimes is a mess.'
Kitsu glanced at him.
"Ethan?"
"I'm fine."
"You look confused."
"I'm having an existential crisis."
"Oh."
Kitsu accepted that answer far too easily.
Ethan turned his attention back toward the battlefield.
Karen's Pokémon was struggling.
Morty's Gengar moved across the field like a shadow.
"Thunderbolt!"
Electricity exploded across the battlefield.
Karen's Pokémon tried to move, but the attack caught it.
"Hang in there!"
The Pokémon staggered.
Morty calmly raised his hand.
"Gengar, Shadow Ball."
The Ghost-type fired.
Boom!
The attack struck.
Karen's Pokémon fell.
The referee raised his flag.
"Pokémon is unable to battle!"
Karen clenched her fist.
"Come back."
She recalled her Pokémon.
Ethan watched silently.
'Yeah.'
He looked at Morty.
'She's definitely losing.'
Morty didn't look smug.
He simply waited.
Karen reached for another Poké Ball.
"Then I'll use you."
She threw it onto the field.
A burst of white light appeared.
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
'Interesting.'
Kitsu leaned toward him.
"Who is she?"
Ethan kept watching the battlefield.
"Her name is Karen."
Kitsu blinked.
"Do you know her?"
Ethan paused.
"Not yet."
He looked at the young Karen again.
'But I definitely will.'
Morty looked at the Pokémon Karen had sent out and gave a small clap.
"A Sneasel. I have to say, finding one is rare."
The dark Pokémon crouched low, its claws scraping against the battlefield.
Morty smiled.
"But I still don't think it's enough to win."
Karen narrowed her eyes.
"Don't underestimate it."
Sneasel let out a sharp cry.
"Snea!"
Morty raised a hand.
"Gengar, Hypnosis."
Gengar's eyes began to glow.
Karen reacted instantly.
"Sneasel, Quick Attack!"
Sneasel vanished in a blur.
Gengar's Hypnosis missed.
Ethan's eyes widened slightly.
'Good.'
Karen wasn't just relying on having a rare Pokémon.
She understood how to use it.
Sneasel darted across the battlefield, moving around Gengar before suddenly changing direction.
"Now, Slash!"
Sneasel rushed in.
Its claws glowed white.
"Shadow Ball."
Gengar fired at point blank range.
Karen's eyes widened.
"Sneasel, jump!"
Sneasel leaped over the Shadow Ball.
The attack exploded behind it.
Sneasel landed and immediately slashed Gengar across the chest.
Gengar staggered.
The entire group watched.
Kitsu grinned.
"She actually hit it."
Ethan nodded.
"Yeah."
He looked at Karen.
'She's good.'
Morty, however, remained calm.
"Not bad."
Karen smiled slightly.
"Thanks."
Morty raised his hand.
"But you're forgetting something."
Karen's expression changed.
"Gengar, Hypnosis."
Gengar's eyes flashed.
This time, Sneasel was too close to dodge.
Karen shouted.
"Sneasel!"
Sneasel's movements slowed.
Its eyes began to close.
"No!"
Sneasel collapsed onto the battlefield.
Karen clenched her fists.
Morty nodded.
"Now, Dream Eater."
Ethan's expression immediately changed.
'There it is.'
Gengar moved forward.
But before it could attack, Karen suddenly shouted.
"Sneasel, wake up!"
Nothing happened.
Gengar's attack connected.
Sneasel's body glowed as Gengar drained its energy.
Karen stared at the battlefield.
For the first time, her confidence cracked.
Ethan watched quietly.
'She's talented.'
He glanced at Morty.
'But Morty's team is built to punish inexperienced trainers.'
Kitsu whispered.
"She's going to lose."
Ethan nodded.
"Unless she finds a way around Hypnosis."
On the battlefield, Karen slowly raised her head.
Her eyes hardened.
"Then I'll just have to make you miss."
Morty's smile widened.
"Now that's the attitude of a trainer."
Ethan blinked.
'Yep.'
He folded his arms.
'That's definitely Karen.'
Karen returned her defeated Pokémon to its Poké Ball.
She looked down at it for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh.
Morty walked over.
"You did well. You have great potential."
Karen looked at him.
"But I didn't win."
Morty shook his head.
"There's still a whole year before the Johto League officially starts. You have time."
Karen looked at him for a moment before nodding.
"Then I'll get stronger."
Morty smiled.
"I'll look forward to seeing how far you go."
He then noticed Ethan and Kitsu standing nearby.
"Ah, Ethan, Kitsu. Are you here for your Gym Badges?"
Both twins nodded.
"Yeah."
"Yep."
Morty smiled.
"Then I suppose I have two battles to prepare for."
As he spoke, the Gym doors opened again.
Whitney, Bugsy, Falkner, Lyra, Sabrina, Erika, and Lusamine walked inside.
They had clearly arrived specifically to watch.
Ethan glanced at the group.
"You guys didn't have to come."
Whitney grinned.
"Of course we did."
Bugsy nodded.
"You're fighting a Gym Leader. That's worth watching."
Falkner crossed his arms.
"And I want to see how you handle a Ghost specialist after what happened yesterday."
Ethan looked at him.
"You just want to see me suffer."
"Maybe."
Lyra giggled.
Sabrina simply walked toward the spectator area.
Erika followed her.
Lusamine entered last.
Unlike everyone else, however, she was carrying a folder.
Ethan noticed it immediately.
'What's in that?'
Lusamine caught him looking.
She smiled innocently.
"I'll explain later."
Ethan narrowed his eyes.
"That sounds suspicious."
"It's not."
"You said that way too quickly."
Lusamine merely smiled.
Morty looked between them.
"Well, whatever that folder contains can wait."
He walked toward the battlefield.
"Ethan, Kitsu. Which one of you is going first?"
Kitsu immediately pointed at Ethan.
"Him."
Ethan stared at his sister.
"Really?"
Kitsu nodded.
"You have the most experience with Gym Battles."
Ethan sighed.
"Thanks for volunteering me."
Kitsu smiled.
"You're welcome."
Ethan walked toward the battlefield.
As he passed Lusamine, she quietly said,
"Good luck."
He glanced at the folder again.
"You're really not going to tell me?"
"After your battle."
Ethan sighed.
"Fine."
He stepped onto the battlefield.
Morty took his position across from him.
The Gym suddenly became quiet.
Morty reached for a Poké Ball.
"Ethan Hermonia."
He smiled.
"Show me what you've got."
Morty reached for his first Poké Ball.
"Let's begin."
He threw it onto the battlefield.
"Come on out, Sableye!"
A burst of white light appeared.
Sableye landed on all fours, its gemstone eyes reflecting the Gym's lights.
Ethan studied it carefully.
'Of course he starts with Sableye.'
He reached for one of his own Poké Balls.
"Let's go, Rocky."
He threw it.
The white light faded, revealing his Steelix.
The massive Steel type crashed onto the battlefield, making the ground shake.
Sableye looked up at the enormous Pokémon.
Morty raised an eyebrow.
"Steelix?"
Ethan nodded.
"I've got something I want to set up."
He pointed toward the battlefield.
"Rocky, Stealth Rock."
Steelix slammed its tail against the ground.
Rock fragments rose into the air, spinning around the battlefield before settling into invisible positions.
Morty watched carefully.
"Setting up hazards already?"
Ethan grinned.
"You're using six Pokémon. I'm going to make every switch hurt."
Morty's expression became slightly more serious.
"Then I suppose I shouldn't let you set up freely."
He pointed toward Steelix.
"Sableye, Shadow Claw."
Sableye disappeared.
Ethan's eyes widened.
"Rocky, behind you!"
Too late.
Sableye emerged from Steelix's shadow, its claws glowing with Ghost energy.
"Now!"
Slash!
The attack struck Steelix's side.
Steelix barely moved.
Ethan smirked.
"Not bad."
Sableye landed and immediately backed away.
Ethan looked at Rocky.
"Your turn."
He pointed forward.
"Rock Slide!"
Steelix roared.
Several massive rocks broke loose and crashed toward Sableye.
Morty smiled.
"Sableye, dodge!"
Sableye darted between the falling rocks.
But Ethan wasn't watching Sableye.
He was watching where it was going.
'Just like yesterday.'
His eyes narrowed.
'Morty likes forcing movement.'
He smiled.
"Rocky, keep the pressure on."
Steelix swung its massive body around.
The battle had officially begun.
Steelix swung its massive body around.
"Rock Slide!"
Another barrage of rocks tore across the battlefield.
" Sableye, Aerial Ace!"
Sableye suddenly accelerated.
Its body blurred as it slipped between the falling rocks, moving in a sharp zigzag.
Ethan narrowed his eyes.
'There.'
Sableye was heading straight toward Steelix.
"Rocky, Iron Tail!"
Steelix's tail began to glow.
Sableye suddenly changed direction.
"Now, Shadow Claw!"
It vanished into Steelix's shadow.
Ethan's eyes widened.
"Behind you!"
Sableye emerged from the darkness and slashed Steelix across the back.
Clang!
The attack barely scratched it.
Morty smiled.
"Interesting. You're using Steelix as a wall."
Ethan shrugged.
"He's good at that."
Steelix turned around.
Morty pointed forward.
"Sableye, Torment."
A dark aura surrounded Steelix.
Ethan immediately recognized the move.
'So that's how he's going to deal with my setup.'
He frowned.
"Rocky, don't use the same move twice."
Steelix roared.
Morty smiled.
"Recover."
Sableye's body glowed as its injuries from Rock Slide slowly healed.
Kitsu leaned forward from the stands.
"That's annoying."
Bugsy nodded.
"Very."
Falkner looked at Ethan.
"He's forcing you to rotate your moves while Sableye heals."
Ethan heard him.
"Yeah."
He watched Sableye carefully.
'But there's one problem.'
He glanced at the Stealth Rock scattered around the field.
'Every time Morty switches, he's going to take damage.'
A small grin appeared on Ethan's face.
"Rocky."
Steelix looked at him.
"Don't attack."
Everyone blinked.
Morty raised an eyebrow.
Ethan pointed toward Sableye.
"Just keep blocking it."
Steelix planted its massive body firmly on the battlefield.
Morty understood.
"You're waiting."
Ethan nodded.
"Yep."
Morty smiled.
"Then I'll make you move first."
"Sableye, Shadow Claw!"
Sableye charged.
Ethan didn't flinch.
"Rocky, Iron Defense."
Steelix's body hardened.
Sableye's claws struck.
Clang!
The attack bounced off Steelix's armor.
Sableye landed.
Morty smiled.
"Again."
"Shadow Claw!"
Sableye attacked again.
"Rocky, Iron Defense."
Another strike.
Another clang.
Kitsu stared at Ethan.
"He's seriously just sitting there?"
Sabrina shook her head.
"No."
She watched Ethan closely.
"He's waiting for Morty to reveal something."
Ethan smiled.
'Come on.'
He watched Sableye.
'Show me how you plan to break Steelix.'
Morty looked at his Pokémon.
Then he smiled.
"Sableye."
The Ghost-type turned toward him.
"Use Aerial Ace."
Ethan's expression changed.
'Aerial Ace?'
Sableye suddenly rushed forward.
Ethan immediately understood.
'He's not trying to hurt Steelix.'
Sableye's attack struck the ground beside Steelix.
Dust exploded upward.
Ethan's vision disappeared.
"Rocky!"
Steelix couldn't see.
Morty's voice came through the dust.
"Shadow Claw."
Sableye vanished.
Ethan grinned.
"Rocky, Iron Tail around you!"
Steelix swung its tail blindly.
CLANG!
Something was hit.
The dust began to clear.
Sableye had been knocked backward.
Morty smiled.
"Not bad."
Ethan looked at Rocky.
"Yeah."
He grinned.
"But we're not done yet."
Steelix lowered its head.
Ethan pointed toward Sableye.
"Rock Slide."
Steelix roared.
The battlefield shook as another wave of rocks came crashing down.
To be continue.
Hope people like this Ch and Give me power stones and enjoy