Morning mist clung to the base of the cliffs, weaving through the evergreens like silk. The air was fresh, laced with the faint scent of moss and earth as Joseph and Steven moved quietly through the trail leading to Rusturf Tunnel.
The Hoenn wilderness was more than just picturesque—it was alive. Chirping Taillow flew overhead, Wingull skimmed the morning dew, and Skitty chased fallen leaves between tall grass. It was a painter's dream, and a trainer's testbed.
Joseph inhaled deeply. "Smells like freedom."
Steven chuckled beside him. "You're romanticizing sweaty cave crawling and Zubat ambushes."
Eevee perched on Joseph's shoulder gave a snort of agreement.
They reached the tunnel entrance—a yawning cavern of damp stone, flanked by warning signs:
⚠️ Wild Pokémon Area⚠️ Weak structural walls — No Rock Smash inside
Joseph reached into his pocket, fingers brushing the familiar contours of his Emerald ROM's PC interface, hidden in a sleek device fused into his new body. It pulsed faintly beneath his skin—quiet, ready, like always.
But for now, he wouldn't use it. This stretch of the journey was about natural growth.
Inside Rusturf Tunnel
The cool darkness of the tunnel wrapped around them. Tiny flecks of crystal in the stone walls caught their lantern light, glittering like stars. Zubat wings beat in the distance.
Steven paused. "The acoustics here… this used to be an excavation route. Devon abandoned it after the tunnels started collapsing."
Joseph ran a hand along the wall. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"
"That we should test resonance frequencies of the mineral pockets?"
"No," Joseph smirked. "That this is the perfect place for Echoed Voice training."
Eevee blinked up at him.
Joseph gave her a nod. "Go ahead."
The shiny fox leapt from his shoulder and let out a sharp, rippling cry—her Echoed Voice rebounding off the stone with beautiful amplification. Each time she used the move, it grew stronger, louder, building into a harmonic pulse.
Joseph crossed his arms, satisfied. "You've been practicing."
Steven watched with an impressed nod. "You really are grooming her for a serious evolution path."
"She'll choose when she's ready," Joseph replied. "But she's already strong."
From deeper in the tunnel, the ground trembled.
Both brothers turned.
A Mawile emerged—wild, proud, and territorial. Its great jaws snapped in warning.
Joseph smiled faintly. "Let me handle this."
Eevee vs. Mawile
Eevee padded forward, unafraid. Her silvery fur gleamed in the dim light, and her violet eyes narrowed with razor focus.
"Shadow Ball," Joseph said calmly.
A crackling orb of ghost energy spun from her mouth and slammed into Mawile's shoulder. It growled but didn't fall.
It charged forward.
"Quick Attack. Then Iron Tail."
Eevee vanished in a flash of speed, struck Mawile mid-charge, then spun midair—her tail shining bright silver—and landed a clean hit across the steel-type's side.
The cave trembled slightly. Mawile staggered… then backed down.
Steven whistled. "You're holding her back."
Joseph scratched behind her ear. "Only until she's ready."
Mawile disappeared into the shadows, its pride intact.
The tunnel eventually opened up to the outside world—bright light spilling through an archway of stone. The exit led to a scenic path with highland forests and long bridges spanning cliffs and rivers.
They stepped out into sunshine once more.
Verdanturf and Beyond
The brothers made a brief stop in Verdanturf Town—a peaceful village with healing winds, lush parks, and one of the best Contest Halls in the region.
Locals recognized them instantly.
"Joseph Stone!" a Coordinator gasped. "You're the one who battled Wattson on that stream, right?"
"And you're Steven Stone!" another said. "Are you here for a contest? Or…"
"Just passing through," Joseph replied with a polite smile.
They didn't linger. They'd learned to move quickly through places where the Stone name rang too loudly.
The Meteor Road
The road from Verdanturf to Fallarbor curved through lush highlands and fields of ash-swept meadows, the sky hazy from distant volcanic activity.
Steven adjusted his scarf. "You think Team Magma's operating near Mt. Chimney?"
"Probably," Joseph said. "We'll head that way after Fallarbor. Maybe check out Meteor Falls too."
He paused.
"...and if something feels off, we'll investigate."
Steven gave him a sideways glance. "You always did have a habit of walking into disaster zones."
Joseph grinned. "And walking back out with a win."
Evening Campfire
That night, they camped by a cliffside overlooking a valley of luminous mushrooms. Eevee napped beside the fire, belly full and tail twitching.
Joseph sat against a boulder, sorting berries while checking his PC interface. Dozens of max-level Pokémon rested in digital stasis—his team from countless childhood runs. Each with nicknames. Held items. Perfect stats.
His fingers hovered over a few names.
Typhlosion (Scope Lens)
Salamence (Leftovers)
Metagross (Mega Stone — future ready)
Shiny Rayquaza (Choice Band)
Steven sat across from him, quietly sketching a shard of luminous stone.
"You ever wonder," Joseph asked, "if we were meant for something bigger?"
Steven didn't look up. "Every day."
Joseph sighed. "I don't want to be Champion. Or CEO. But I still want to change things."
"You already are," Steven said. "You just don't act like it matters."
Joseph smiled. "Maybe that's why it does."
A Warning in the Wind
Later that night, as they finished cleaning up, a rustling came from the woods beyond their camp.
Joseph and Steven froze.
A shadow darted between trees—too fast for a wild Pokémon. No sound. Just movement.
Joseph's eyes narrowed.
"I'll handle it."
He stepped quietly into the underbrush, Eevee padding silently beside him. They found a trail—boot prints. Heavy, deliberate.
Someone was watching them.
From the trees above, a cloaked figure moved—but just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished. Joseph caught only the red insignia on the back of the cloak.
A flame-shaped "M".
Team Magma.
Morning Plans
By morning, the tension had lifted, but the urgency remained.
They packed quickly.
Steven didn't ask questions—he knew the look in Joseph's eyes meant they were now on alert.
"Fallarbor by noon?" he asked.
"Earlier, if we push it."
As they set off, Eevee turned to glance back toward the forest—ears twitching, senses sharp.
Something had changed.
They weren't just travelers anymore.
They were being hunted. Watched. Measured.
And the next phase of their journey was just beginning.
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