POKEMON : STARTING WITH FLASH METAGROSS

The ground collapsed beneath them, and the towering Onix was the first to plummet into the abyss.

Cubone instinctively tried to retreat, but the earth gave way too quickly. At the same time, Rax Chand, positioned at the edge of the collapse, barely managed to cling to the ledge.

"Cubone, return!"

With precise timing, Rax called Cubone back into its Poké Ball, ensuring its safety before he himself lost his footing and began sliding into the depths.

Rax shielded his head with one arm while clawing at the rock walls with the other to slow his descent. His fingernails tore, and his skin scraped raw, but he didn't dare let go.

After what felt like an eternity, Rax's feet struck solid ground. The dust settled, and a tense silence fell over the cave.

"Ptooey!" Rax spat out dirt and pushed himself up, brushing off debris. Though battered and bruised, his body was miraculously intact—aside from his bloodied left hand.

With a loud pop, Cubone emerged from its Poké Ball, rushing to Rax's side. Its red-rimmed eyes reflected its guilt and concern as it stared at Rax's injured hand.

"It's fine, Cubone," Rax said, forcing a grin through the pain. "Grab the water bottle and wound medicine from my bag, will you?"

Cubone obediently slipped Rax's backpack off his waist, rummaging through it with nimble fingers.

"Good, now twist the cap and pour the water over the wound."

Cubone followed his instructions precisely, its little hands shaking slightly. Cool water poured over Rax's hand, soothing the sting.

"Hah… okay, now the medicine." Rax winced as Cubone dabbed the wound with antiseptic. Though the process was agonizing, Rax made a point of smiling to reassure his Pokémon.

"It's a scratch, nothing more," he said lightly, patting Cubone's helmet. "You're doing great. Now let's figure out where we are."

Cubone nodded, but its guilt lingered as it glanced around the cavern. A faint light filtered down from above, illuminating their predicament. The rock walls surrounding them were steep and jagged—impossible to climb, especially with Rax's injured hand.

Ahead, a dark tunnel loomed like an open maw.

"There's an opening there," Rax said, gesturing toward the left. "It might lead us out. Let's take it slow."

Snap!

Rax switched on his flashlight, its beam cutting through the darkness. Though faint, it provided a glimmer of hope in the pitch-black cave.

The air was eerily quiet, save for their footsteps. Cubone stayed on high alert, its bone club raised and ready.

Suddenly, the silence was broken by a flurry of screeches.

Zzzzt! Zzzzt!

Several Zubats, disturbed by the light, darted past them in a chaotic blur.

"Cubone, Smack Down!"

Cubone swiftly launched a sharp rock, striking one of the Zubats mid-flight. Its companions screeched and fled, rescuing the fallen Zubat before disappearing into the shadows.

Rax chuckled softly. "Looks like they're timid but loyal."

Still, the presence of Zubat was a good sign—they often ventured out at night, suggesting there was an exit nearby.

The pair pressed on, navigating the uneven terrain. They encountered forks in the tunnel and marked their path carefully to avoid getting lost.

After several minutes, Rax's flashlight illuminated something peculiar—an iron-gray rock riddled with holes. As he focused on it, the rock trembled slightly, and two sky-blue eyes blinked open.

Aron!

Rax froze. A wild Aron had emerged from its resting place. Its tribe often lived in groups, and where there was one, there were likely many more nearby.

"Cubone, back away. Slowly," Rax whispered, dimming the flashlight to avoid provoking the Pokémon.

Sure enough, as his eyes adjusted, Rax spotted several more "rocks" stirring in the shadows. They were surrounded by a small Aron colony.

Fortunately, the Pokémon seemed uninterested in them, and Rax and Cubone retreated without incident. Once safely back at the fork, Rax marked the path and chose a different route.

"We got lucky," Rax muttered. Cubone nodded, its grip on the bone club tightening.

The duo continued cautiously, with Cubone using its tail to sense vibrations in the ground. They eventually came to another dead end, this time blocked by a sleeping Whismur.

Rax crouched low, examining the Pokémon. Whismur's presence was another promising sign of an exit. However, he knew they couldn't risk waking it. In this confined space, a Whismur's sound-based attacks could be catastrophic.

But a faint breeze tickled his face, carrying the scent of fresh air.

"This passage leads outside," Rax thought, clenching his fist. "We'll have to fight."