Pokemon: Skybound

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Kai scanned the room and quickly focused on a filing cabinet in front of the wall. Upon closer inspection, he noticed scuff marks where the cabinet met the floor marks that were clearly new, indicating the cabinet had been moved recently.

Kai stepped forward and pushed the cabinet aside with force. Sure enough, it revealed a hidden door behind it.

The secret door was slightly ajar, and through the gap, they could see a staircase leading downward.

Standing at the entrance, they felt a faint draft of air flowing from within, suggesting the area below wasn't sealed off. This had to be the warehouse's secret escape route.

Lorelei stepped forward and glanced down the staircase. "Looks like that executive escaped through here!"

As she moved to enter the passage immediately, Kai extended a hand to stop her.

Lorelei looked puzzled. "What now?"

Kai replied, "From what I know of Petrel, he's a cunning guy. We should tread carefully."

Taking a cautious approach, Kai signalled to Haunter, who floated into the secret passage to scout ahead.

After a few moments, Haunter returned and gave an "OK" gesture, confirming it was safe to proceed. Only then did Kai, Lorelei, and Sabrina enter the hidden doorway.

Beyond the door was a narrow, straight tunnel. The width was barely a meter, and the floor was uneven, likely due to rushed construction.

The walls bore shovel marks, with square-shaped imprints showing where tools had been used.

Using the dim emergency lighting, they hadn't walked far before Haunter alerted them to a broken trapdoor mechanism up ahead.

Sure enough, a flipped panel in the floor revealed jagged spikes beneath, glinting ominously in the dim light.

"A trap!" Lorelei exclaimed, shivering at the sight of the sharp spikes. The thought of accidentally triggering it sent a chill down her spine.

Seeing her reaction, Kai smiled faintly. "This is why we're careful."

Impressed, Lorelei couldn't help but reevaluate Kai. 'Bold yet cautious, skilled with his Pokémon, and undeniably handsome it's no wonder Sabrina has feelings for him!'

They carefully bypassed the trap and continued deeper into the passage. After a minute of brisk walking, the tunnel began to incline upward.

Finally, they emerged from a cave into a dense forest, far beyond the warehouse's boundaries.

"There he is!!" Lorelei shouted.

Her sharp eyes spotted a man running frantically toward the forest's edge. It was Petrel, without a doubt!

Hearing her voice, Petrel glanced back. When he saw Kai and the others, his face turned pale.

'Damn it! How did they catch up so quickly?!'

In his panic, he tripped over a tree root and fell flat on his face. Scrambling to his feet, he abandoned any sense of dignity, crawling forward before breaking into a desperate run.

Kai extended a hand, signalling to Gardevoir. Using Teleport, Gardevoir instantly appeared in front of Petrel, blocking his path.

"Get out of my way!" Petrel roared, releasing his Pokémon in an attempt to stall Gardevoir.

However, with Haunter and Dewgong joining the fray, his Pokémon were swiftly overpowered and defeated in mere seconds.

Still desperate, Petrel ran another few dozen meters before reaching a small bay.

The bay featured a makeshift port with scattered crates and equipment clearly a temporary setup for Team Rocket's operations. A speedboat, his last hope of escape, was moored at the dock.

Petrel untied the rope and leapt onto the boat, fumbling to start the engine. Just as he thought he'd made it, Sabrina's psychic powers enveloped both him and the boat, lifting them off the water.

"AAAAAAHHHHHH!!" Petrel screamed, thrashing helplessly as he and the boat were dragged back to shore.

When the speedboat crashed onto the ground, Petrel tumbled out, stunned. Before he could stand, Kai approached and delivered a swift punch to his temple, knocking him unconscious.

'looks like I hit him too hard but should I cut off his fingers?' Kai flexed his fist, slightly worried he might have hit too hard. Fortunately, Lorelei inspected Petrel and reassured him with a smile.

"He's fine, just out cold. He'll wake up after a good nap."

With Petrel apprehended, the mission was finally complete. Capturing one of Team Rocket's key executives was a significant achievement.

After Haunter used Ominous Wind to hoist Petrel, the trio prepared to return to the warehouse.

However, in their haste, they realized they had lost track of the tunnel's exit.

Thankfully, Lorelei remembered the warehouse's location. After some navigation, they found another path and headed back toward the island's centre.

This operation could be considered a success. Once Petrel was handed over to the police, their part in the mission would be over. The subsequent custody and transfer of the prisoners would no longer be their concern.

As they walked, they came across a peculiar site.

In a clearing stood a stone tower, several meters tall. It resembled the massive tail of a Steelix. At its base was a gravestone.

Curious, Sabrina approached the gravestone and read the inscription aloud.

"'Here lies Arion. In memory of my loyal partner.'"

"Arion? That must mean a Steelix," Lorelei explained. "This is the Tower of Memories, also known as the Steelix Grave. Legend says a Steelix is buried beneath this tower. It's been a famous site here for decades."

Kai gazed at the monument, his thoughts wandering. He recalled encountering this site in the Pokémon games and how the gravestone had always evoked a sense of melancholy.

Now, seeing it in real life, and having formed so many bonds with Pokémon, the sight struck him even harder.

"When a Pokémon passes unexpectedly, the trainer must feel unimaginable pain," Kai murmured, his expression complicated.

Seeing the overgrown grass around the area, a sense of desolation gripped him. Without realizing it, Kai crouched down and began clearing away the weeds.

Lorelei and Sabrina stood silently, watching his every move. As trainers themselves, they understood his feelings and said nothing to interrupt him.

As Kai continued pulling weeds, sweat dripped down his face. Clearing one patch, he moved to another area, where he uncovered a small pile of stones. Atop the pile was a rock etched with a message.

"'Thank you for your kindness, stranger. I have buried something here that may aid you.'"

Kai raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"

Beneath the stones, he discovered a metallic object that gleamed faintly in the sunlight. It looked like a rare treasure.

Curious, Sabrina and Lorelei joined him, examining the item. While Sabrina couldn't identify it, Lorelei immediately recognized its significance.

"This must be the legendary Metal Coat."

"Metal Coat?" Sabrina asked, surprised. "What's that?"

Lorelei smirked. "Finally, something even you don't know about!"

She relished the moment until Sabrina's glance brought her back to seriousness.

"Ahem. The Metal Coat is a rare mineral. Some trainers use it to make Steelix evolve from Onix. For trainers with an Onix, this is a priceless treasure."

Kai studied the Metal Coat in his hands, marvelling at its weight and shine. "Looks like clearing those weeds paid off."

Lorelei nodded. "Not just for you. Whoever buried this probably wanted it to be found by someone deserving. And clearly, they were right."

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