POKEMON : STARTING WITH FLASH METAGROSS

The Forest Mansion was massive, with numerous rooms to explore.

It took Rax two hours to check every corner. Fortunately, with Metang's Telekinesis, his search was far more efficient.

In the end, though, all he found was an old wooden box—its exterior weathered and decayed, but the inside remarkably well-preserved.

Carefully, he asked Metang to open the box with Telekinesis, revealing a sheepskin map nestled inside.

Rax picked up the map and studied it. The terrain's outline seemed oddly familiar, but he couldn't immediately place it.

"Guess I'll take it as a lucky find and figure it out later," Rax muttered.

He put the map away, took one last look at the Forest Mansion, and let out a deep sigh of relief. Turning around, he set off once more.

The edge of Baidai Forest was close now, and Baidai City wasn't far beyond.

---

Three days later, Rax arrived in Baidai City, its forest-themed ambiance a stark contrast to the eerie mansion he had just left behind.

His first stop was, of course, the Pokémon Center. After handing over Marowak and Skiploom to Nurse Joy for treatment, he plugged in his communicator to charge and began scrolling through messages.

Among them were updates from Uesugi, Jill, and Ares.

Spotting Ares's unfamiliar Houndoom avatar, Rax tensed up and clicked the message.

After reading it, he relaxed. It was just a reminder to submit a report—nothing urgent or dangerous.

He then checked Jill's messages, which contained intelligence from the Team Rocket Sinnoh branch. After ensuring there was nothing critical, he finally opened Uesugi's message.

> "If you have good news, call back immediately."

Rax's drowsiness vanished. He jumped up and dialed Uesugi without hesitation.

The call connected quickly, and Uesugi wasted no time.

"You've hit the jackpot," Uesugi said. "We've secured the three Galar starters. The professor insisted on reserving a set for you—come pick them up as soon as you can."

Rax's heart raced.

"Really…?!"

"Yes. But these are rare, so the professor wanted to make sure you got first choice. Can you come soon?"

Rax didn't hesitate.

"I can catch a flight tonight and be there tomorrow morning!"

"Good. You'll be first in line, but don't let this slip to anyone else," Uesugi warned.

Rax nodded, his gratitude running deep. "Got it. Thank you so much."

But as the call ended, his excitement cooled slightly.

The Yamanashi Research Institute had always maintained a balanced partnership with him—mutually beneficial and without strings attached. But this time, Uesugi had emphasized the difficulty of obtaining these starters, clearly hinting at an owed favor.

Rax frowned.

"Looks like I need to diversify my connections," he thought. "Relying on one group too much isn't wise."

Still, there was no way he'd pass up this opportunity.

The Galar starters—Scorbunny, Sobble, and Grookey—were all exceptional Pokémon. Their unique Gigantamax forms, signature moves, and top-tier hidden abilities made them stand out among the starters of all regions.

The only downside? He could only choose one.

---

That night, Rax boarded a plane back to Masaga City.

He thought his excitement would keep him awake, but the steady hum of the aircraft lulled him into a peaceful sleep.

By the time the plane landed, the early morning sun was still hidden behind the horizon. Feeling restless, Rax decided to take a quiet walk along the beach, letting the salty breeze clear his mind.

The gentle waves shimmered under the moonlight, and a large Mantine leaped out of the water before vanishing beneath the surface again.

"Good omen," Rax muttered with a smile. "Time to choose my starter."

---

At the Yamanashi Research Institute, Uesugi greeted Rax and wasted no time leading him to the greenhouse where the starters were kept.

"Dr. Yamanashi is still resting, but he left instructions for you to choose first," Uesugi said.

"Thanks," Rax replied, doing his best to stay composed despite his growing excitement.

Uesugi raised an eyebrow at Rax's calm demeanor but said nothing, motioning for him to enter.

The greenhouse was modest in size but well-equipped, with a small forest, a grassy meadow, and a pool—each designed to accommodate the respective starters.

Rax's first stop was the pool.

The crystal-clear water sparkled under the sunlight, and small ripples hinted at movement beneath the surface.

Rax crouched down and tossed in pieces of a water-type energy cube he'd prepared earlier.

The scent of the cube quickly drew out several transparent shapes—Sobble! The shy water-type Pokémon darted up to grab the pieces before retreating back into the water.

"Don't want to come out and say hi?" Rax coaxed gently.

But the timid Sobble didn't emerge, even after finishing the treat.

Rax sighed. It was hard to imagine these shy little creatures growing into the confident and precise Inteleon.

Shrugging, he moved on to the forested area.

Here, three Grookey sat on the branches, curiously watching Rax approach.

"Hey there!" Rax greeted, waving.

The Grookey tilted their heads in unison, as if to say, Who are you?

Rax chuckled and pulled out some grass-type energy cubes.

"Want a snack?"

The enticing aroma caught their attention immediately. The Grookey perked up, pulling the sticks from their heads and drumming excitedly on the branches.

Despite their enthusiasm, bone of them came down from the trees, clearly wary of the stranger.

Rax smiled. "I guess that leaves one more to check out."

He turned toward the grassy meadow, where the lively Scorbunny were sure to be waiting.