The Pokémon:Isekai

A few minutes after Aria had vanished into the forest, Tusk finally managed to force his way out of his Pokéball. His small body materialized in the dim firelight, his red eyes glancing around as he tried to mimic Aria's careful, silent movements.

Unfortunately, subtlety was not his strong suit.

The moment he took his first step, his heavy steel-plated body shifted awkwardly, and with a loud clang, he tripped over his own Pokéball. The metallic thud echoed through the still night, startling me awake as my heart nearly leaped out of my chest.

"What the hell was that?!" I shouted, bolting upright, my mind still foggy from sleep.

"Huh?! What's going on?!" Sammy sat up just as quickly, his eyes still heavy with exhaustion. He looked around frantically before his gaze landed on Tusk sprawled out on the ground. His Pokéball rolled a few inches away, glinting in the firelight.

"Tusk… what are you doing out of your Pokéball, buddy?" Sammy muttered, rubbing his eyes as he stood up and moved towards the steel dragon. Tusk quickly scrambled to his feet, shaking himself off like nothing happened, but something about his posture felt… off.

I frowned, glancing around our camp. The night felt eerily different now—like something had shifted. My tired brain was still catching up, but then it hit me.

Wait… where was Aria?

My stomach twisted as I realized she was nowhere in sight. I turned to Rotom, who was now floating sluggishly beside me, its screen flickering to life.

"Rotom," I said, trying to steady my voice, "Do you know where's Aria?"

"I don't know, Alex Carter! But I'll scan the area!" Rotom's screen flickered as it floated out of the tent, its mechanical voice sharp with urgency. It hovered outside, its light flashing as it searched for any sign of Aria.

Sammy groaned, rubbing his temples. "Where could she have gone in this forest?" He patted Tusk's head, but his Axew had stopped fidgeting. Instead, the small dragon stood completely still, his sharp eyes scanning the darkness around us.

"I don't know," I muttered, gripping Aria's Pokéball in my hand. My fingers curled around it tightly. "But we need to find her!"

Tusk suddenly perked up, his nostrils flaring as he sniffed the air. Without warning, he leaped out of the tent, landing in the dirt outside. He turned back to us, eyes locked onto mine and to sammy, and gave a firm nod before motioning with his small arms—urging us to follow.

Sammy didn't hesitate. "Looks like Tusk knows where she went! Let's move!" He pulled on his black jacket, zipping it up against the cool night air.

I quickly grabbed my red coat the same one I had been using as a blanket and threw it over my shoulders. "Rotom2, can you track down my Rotom and meet up with us after?" I asked, already stepping forward.

The other Rotom, Sammy's, beeped in protest. [First of all, I am not Rotom2. If anyone's Rotom2, it's the other one. Second, yes, I can track it.]

"Good,now do that!" I turned to Sammy as I adjusted my coat. "Let's go."

Tusk gave another short huff before running. We didn't waste another second—we followed him into the heart of the Viridian forest.

As we rushed through the dense undergrowth, the cool night air brushed against my face, carrying the scent of damp earth and leaves. Tusk led the way, his small but determined steps unwavering as he followed Aria's scent. Sammy trailed behind me, his breathing steady but laced with concern.

"Why do you think she left without saying anything?" Sammy suddenly asked, breaking the silence. His voice was calm, but I could tell he was just as worried as I was.

The question hit me like a brick. My thoughts spiraled in an instant. I don't know... Did I push her too hard? Did I do something wrong? A knot formed in my stomach as more thoughts flooded in. Is she leaving me to? But why? Why did she leave me... just like before?

I clenched my fists, trying to push away the sinking feeling creeping into my chest. But before I could drown in my own doubts, a piercing cry shattered the night—Aria's cry.

My heart stopped for a second.

But that cry... It wasn't just a call. It was pain.

"Sammy, I'm going ahead!" I shouted, my body moving before my mind could catch up.

Without waiting for a response, I pushed forward, my legs burning as I sprinted ahead of Tusk. The forest blurred around me, the only thing guiding me now was the desperate sound of my Pokémon in distress.

A little ahead, standing eerily against the backdrop of the forest, was a white building—small but not insignificant. Its structure was devoid of windows, and something about it felt wrong. The door was slightly ajar, darkness seeping from within.

Then, another cry echoed into the night.

Aria's cry.

But she wasn't alone. Another voice—another Pokémon—was crying out too.

"Aria!" I shouted, my heart pounding as I bolted toward the building.

Crossing the threshold, a wave of unease settled over me. The air inside was stale and thick with the metallic scent of something unsettling—something that made my stomach churn. It smelled like chemicals… and blood.

The interior looked disturbingly like a hospital, but not the kind meant for healing. Fluorescent lights flickered weakly, casting long, eerie shadows on the pristine white walls. Each step I took only heightened the growing dread curling in my gut.

As I moved deeper, the hallway split into two. My feet halted for a moment. Which way?

Before I could decide, heavy footsteps caught up to me. Sammy and Tusk finally arrived, both panting from the sprint.

"Okay, good. Sammy, take that path with Tusk—I'm going the other way," I said, my voice sharp with urgency.

I didn't wait for him to talk as I turned down the right corridor and sprinted forward, the cries of Pokémon growing louder with every step.

"What the—? Are you a machine or something? Stop for a second." Sammy groaned between breaths, but there was no time to argue. With a sigh, he returned Tusk to his Pokéball. "Fine! Let's go, Tusk."

Then, I saw it.

A door.

Without hesitation, I slammed it open—only for my breath to catch in my throat.

Cages. Dozens of them, stacked against the walls like a twisted laboratory. Pokémon were inside, most of them bleeding, their bodies bruised and weak. Some barely stirred, their eyes filled with terror and exhaustion.

My hands clenched into fists. My blood boiled.

As I stepped inside, my breath hitched, my eyes darting wildly around the room, searching—praying—that Aria wasn't here.

But the more I looked, the more the horror sank in.

A Pidgey with only one wing, its other side nothing but raw, bleeding flesh.

A Fearow—its once-proud form reduced to skin and bones, ribs protruding as it lay motionless.

A Metapod and Kakuna—both nothing more than empty shells, their insides hollowed out.

More. There were so many more.

Eyes stared back at me from behind rusted iron bars—wide, pleading, hopeless. Some of them didn't even have the strength to move.

My stomach churned violently. The overwhelming stench of blood and decay clawed at my throat, and I had to swallow down the urge to vomit.

"I-I'll get you guys out…" My voice shook as I stepped forward, my hands trembling. "Just bear with it for a little longer—I promise I'll save you!"

Then, I felt it.

A voice—not in my ears, but in my hearth.

Aria.

I barely had time to think. I turned and bolted out of the room, her presence pulling me forward like an invisible thread.

I ran.

Past dimly lit hallways.

Past locked doors and eerie shadows.

Past the nightmare I had just witnessed.

I ran, faster than I ever had, because she was waiting for me.

And I wasn't going to let somebody down for a second time.