Chapter 42: Dariana's Complete Roster
The road out of Aethelburg cut through the Elysian Plains like a scar that refused to heal.
Briv walked at the head of the group, Chimchar perched on his shoulder, its flame tail flickering with each gust of wind. Behind him, Patricia and Buneary moved in tandem, their footsteps falling into an easy rhythm that spoke of years spent side by side. Nicola walked alone, her Skorupi cradled in her arms, her gaze fixed on the horizon. Samuel brought up the rear with Dariana and Axel, his Doduo scanning the grasslands with both heads swiveling in opposite directions.
They'd been walking for three days.
Three days of open sky and rolling hills. Three days of avoiding main roads and staying off the grid. Three days of watching the horizon for any sign of the Eclipse Squad.
The data chip Gwen had given them sat heavy in Briv's pocket, its contents burned into his memory. Bases. Members. Plans. The Eclipse Squad wasn't just recruiting—they were building an army. And they were doing it in plain sight.
"We should stop soon," Patricia said, shading her eyes against the afternoon sun. "The Pokémon need rest."
"Another mile," Axel replied. "There's a spring ahead. Good water, defensible position."
Nicola snorted. "You sound like you're planning a siege."
"Habit."
The conversation died, as it always did when Axel spoke. He was a difficult man to read—warm one moment, cold the next—and none of them had figured out exactly where they stood with him. He'd helped them escape Aethelburg. He'd given them information about the Eclipse Squad. But there was something in his eyes that kept them all on edge, something that suggested he was playing a game none of them understood.
Dariana fell into step beside Briv, her Eevee trotting at her heels.
"You've been quiet," she said.
"Just thinking."
"About?"
He glanced at her. "Gwen. Jack. Heather. The Eclipse Squad. Take your pick."
"That's a lot of thinking."
"It's been a long week."
They walked in silence for a moment, the grass whispering around their ankles.
"I've been thinking too," Dariana said. "About the League."
"What about it?"
"I have five Pokémon. I need six if I want to compete." She paused. "And I think I found the one I want."
Briv followed her gaze to a rocky outcropping about a hundred yards ahead. At first, he saw nothing—just rocks and grass and the occasional wild Pidgey. Then he noticed movement. A small figure, crouched low, its blue-gray body blending with the shadows.
A Croagunk.
It was smaller than most, its orange cheeks bright against its dark skin, its yellow eyes scanning the landscape with an intelligence that surprised him. It held itself differently than other wild Pokémon—alert, calculating, aware.
"You want to catch it," Briv said.
"I want to catch it."
"You know Croagunk are poisonous, right?"
Dariana's smile was sharp. "So am I."
---
The Croagunk saw them coming.
It didn't flee—it waited, its body still, its eyes tracking their approach with an unnerving focus. When Dariana stepped forward, her Gallade materializing beside her in a flash of light, the Croagunk didn't flinch. It simply raised its hands, fingers splayed, ready.
"Gallade," Dariana said. "Let's not hurt it. We want to capture, not crush."
Her Gallade nodded, its blade-arms lowering slightly, its stance shifting from aggressive to defensive. The psychic-fighting type understood—this wasn't a battle to win. This was a battle to impress.
The Croagunk struck first.
It moved like water—fluid, unpredictable, impossible to pin down. Its arm stretched, fingers glowing with dark energy, and struck Gallade's chest before the psychic type could react.
"Poison Jab," Dariana murmured. "Interesting. It's not just wild—it's trained."
"Trained by who?" Nicola asked.
"Doesn't matter. Gallade, Psycho Cut."
The blade of psychic energy sliced through the air, but Croagunk ducked under it, its body twisting with an agility that seemed almost impossible. It countered with another Poison Jab, this one aimed at Gallade's legs, trying to unbalance the taller Pokémon.
Gallade stumbled, just slightly, and Croagunk pressed the advantage. It struck again, and again, each blow precise and punishing, each strike aimed at a different weak point.
"It's fighting like a duelist," Samuel observed. "Not like a wild Pokémon. It's studied us."
"Then let's give it something to study." Dariana's eyes narrowed. "Gallade, Close Combat."
The psychic type lunged, its blade-arms becoming a blur of motion. Croagunk tried to dodge—tried to twist away—but Gallade was faster, stronger, and its attacks landed with devastating precision.
Croagunk flew backward, tumbling across the grass. It came up bleeding, its breathing ragged, but its eyes still burned with defiance.
"One more," Dariana said. "But don't knock it out. I want it to choose."
Gallade advanced, its blades raised. Croagunk watched it come, its body tensed, its mind clearly racing through options. It could run. It could fight. It could—
It did neither.
Instead, it lowered its arms and bowed its head.
Dariana froze. "What—"
The Croagunk looked up at her, and there was something in its eyes—something that looked almost like respect. Like recognition.
"The damn thing just yielded," Axel said. "Smart."
Dariana pulled an empty Poké Ball from her belt and tossed it. The ball arced through the air, struck Croagunk's chest, and opened with a flash of red light. The Croagunk was drawn inside, and the ball fell to the ground, shaking once, twice, three times.
Then it clicked.
Silence.
Then Dariana laughed—a bright, surprised sound that cut through the tension like a blade.
"I caught it," she said. "I actually caught it."
Gallade approached the Poké Ball and picked it up, cradling it in its blade-arms with surprising gentleness. It carried the ball to Dariana and placed it in her hands, its red eyes meeting hers with unspoken approval.
"Five Pokémon," Briv said. "That's a full roster."
"No." Dariana shook her head, still smiling. "That's a starting line."
---
They made camp that night beside a narrow stream, its water cold and clear, its banks lined with wild berries. Samuel built a fire—his Hippopotas helping by scooping out a shallow pit—while Patricia and Nicola gathered firewood. Axel sat apart from the group, his Rotom hovering beside him, its orange body flickering in the firelight.
Briv watched him.
"You don't trust him," Patricia said, settling down beside him with a bowl of stew.
"I don't know what to think."
"He saved us. He gave us the chip. He warned us about Jack."
"He also worked for the Eclipse Squad. He admitted it. He said he was 'gathering information.' But what if that's what he's doing now? What if we're just the next target?"
Patricia was quiet for a moment. Then she leaned her head against his shoulder.
"You're overthinking it."
"Am I?"
"Maybe not." She smiled against his neck. "But you're also exhausted. And paranoid. And you've barely slept in three days."
"I've slept."
"Closing your eyes for two hours while sitting upright doesn't count as sleep."
He laughed, despite himself. "Since when are you the expert?"
"Since I've been watching you do it for three days."
They sat in comfortable silence, watching the fire crackle and the stars emerge. Chimchar had curled up in a ball beside Briv, its flame tail dimmed to a gentle glow. Across the camp, Nicola was feeding Skorupi bits of dried meat, her expression softer than Briv had seen it in months. Samuel was playing something on a small wooden flute, the melody soft and slow, and Dariana's Gallade stood guard at the edge of the firelight, its eyes fixed on the darkness beyond.
"We should train tomorrow," Briv said. "We've been traveling, but we haven't been fighting. We need to stay sharp."
"Agreed." Patricia lifted her head. "But first, you're going to sleep. Actual sleep. In a tent. With your eyes closed for more than two hours."
"Bossy."
"You love it."
He kissed her forehead. "I do."
---
The next morning dawned clear and cold, and Dariana was the first to rise.
She stood at the edge of the stream, her new Croagunk beside her, its orange cheeks bright in the morning light. The poison-fighting type was examining the water, its yellow eyes reflecting the current, its body still and patient.
"You don't trust me yet," Dariana said. "That's fine. You don't have to. But I want you to know—I'm not going to hurt you. I'm not going to use you. I chose you because you're strong and smart and you fight like you mean it. And I think you chose me for the same reason."
Croagunk looked up at her. Its expression was impossible to read, but it didn't turn away.
"We're going to do great things together," Dariana said. "You'll see."
She pulled a Poké Ball from her belt and tossed it into the air. Croagunk watched it rise, then turned its gaze to the horizon, where the sun was climbing above the hills, painting the world in shades of gold and amber.
For the first time since she'd caught it, the Croagunk smiled.
---
They broke camp an hour later, their packs heavier with supplies from the stream and the berry patches. Axel led the way, his Rotom hovering ahead, its sharp eyes scanning for any sign of danger. Behind him, Briv and Patricia walked side by side, their Pokémon out of their balls and playing in the grass. Nicola walked alone, but there was a lightness in her step that hadn't been there before. And Samuel brought up the rear with Dariana, his Doduo racing alongside her Eevee, the two Pokémon chasing each other through the wildflowers.
"We're going to make it," Patricia said. "To the League. To the end of this thing."
Briv looked at her. At his friends. At the horizon stretching wide and endless before them.
"Yeah," he said. "We are."
And they walked on, into the light, toward whatever waited beyond.
The League was still months away. The Eclipse Squad was still out there. But for the first time in days, Briv felt something like hope.
It wasn't much.
But it was enough.
=====
Samuel heard it before he saw it.
A wet, rhythmic smacking sound, like meat being slapped against stone. He stopped mid-step, his Doduo's twin heads snapping toward the noise in perfect synchronization. The two-headed bird Pokémon crouched low, both beaks slightly open, their bodies tensed for violence.
"What is it?" Dariana asked, her Eevee pressing close to her ankle.
Samuel held up one hand. The gesture was casual, unhurried—his rings glinting in the afternoon light. He was already moving toward the sound, his loose pants swishing against the tall grass, his bare feet silent on the earth.
The others followed at a distance.
Briv caught Patricia's eye. She shrugged. Samuel did things his own way, always had. The man moved through the world like water finding its level, and if he'd heard something worth investigating, it was probably worth investigating.
They found the source of the noise in a shallow ravine.
A Carnivine squatted in the mud, its massive mouth working over a freshly killed Pidgeotto. The grass-type's vine-limbs were wrapped around the carcass, pulling it apart with methodical patience, its yellow eyes half-lidded in contentment. It was huge—easily four feet from stem to tip—and its body pulsed with a slow, predatory rhythm.
Samuel stared at it.
The Carnivine stared back.
"Holy shit," Nicola breathed.
"That's a Carnivine," Axel said, his voice flat. "Rare this far north. They usually stay in the marshes."
Samuel didn't respond.
He was already reaching for a Poké Ball.
"You want to catch it?" Dariana asked, incredulous. "Now? While it's eating?"
"It's distracted," Samuel said. "Best time to strike."
"That thing could swallow Doduo whole."
Doduo's left head squawked in agreement. The right head just stared, its dark eyes fixed on the Carnivine with the intensity of a predator recognizing another predator.
Samuel smiled.
"That's the point."
---
The Carnivine noticed them the moment Samuel stepped into the ravine.
It didn't flee. It didn't drop its meal. It simply turned its massive head toward the intruders, its mouth still crammed with Pidgeotto meat, and let out a low, gurgling hiss.
Samuel's Doduo stepped forward, both heads lowered, their strides matched in perfect rhythm. The two-headed bird moved like a single creature, its four legs eating up the distance between it and the Carnivine with fluid, predatory grace.
"Don't let it get its vines on you," Samuel warned. "Those things can crush bone."
Doduo acknowledged the command with a sharp nod from its left head and a chirp from its right.
The Carnivine struck first.
Its vine-limbs lashed out, three of them at once, whipping through the air like living whips. Doduo dodged left, then right, then left again—each movement precise, minimal, almost lazy in its efficiency. The grass-type's attacks hit nothing but air.
"Quick Attack," Samuel commanded.
Doduo blurred. Its body became a streak of brown and cream, its two heads leading with their beaks. It struck the Carnivine's chest twice in rapid succession—two separate impacts that landed less than a heartbeat apart.
The Carnivine reeled, but it didn't fall. It simply opened its mouth wider and expelled a cloud of purple spores.
"Poison Powder!" Dariana shouted. "Don't breathe it in!"
But Doduo was already moving. It launched itself backward, its powerful legs propelling it out of the cloud's reach. It landed a dozen feet away, both heads shaking violently to clear any lingering spores.
Samuel circled the Carnivine, his eyes never leaving his opponent. "It's slower than you," he said. "But its range is longer. We need to close the gap and stay inside its guard."
Doduo responded with a coordinated nod.
The Carnivine, sensing the shift in momentum, began to retreat. Its vine-limbs wrapped around a nearby rock, preparing to launch itself out of the ravine.
"No," Samuel said. "Pursuit."
Doduo exploded forward, its speed doubling as it caught the grass-type mid-launch. Both beaks stabbed into the Carnivine's soft underside, piercing through the layer of leaves and flesh, and the grass-type screamed.
It crashed back into the mud, its vines flailing wildly, and for a moment, Samuel saw something in its eyes that he recognized.
Desperation.
"One more," he said. "Finishing blow. Pluck."
Doduo leaped. Its left head drove into the Carnivine's jaw while its right head stabbed at its throat. The grass-type's scream cut off abruptly, replaced by a wet, rasping gurgle, and then it collapsed into the mud and didn't move.
Samuel pulled an empty Poké Ball from his belt.
"Don't kill it," Dariana said sharply.
"I'm not going to kill it." He tossed the ball. "I'm going to give it a better life."
The ball struck the Carnivine's body. Red light consumed it, drawing it inside, and the ball fell to the ground with a wet thunk. It shook once. Twice. Three times.
Then it clicked.
Silence.
Samuel walked over and picked up the ball. He held it in both hands, feeling the weight of it, the promise of it, and something in his chest loosened—a knot he hadn't known was there.
"Five," he said quietly. "I've got five."
Dariana approached, her Croagunk waddling beside her. "Congratulations. That's a hell of a catch."
"Thanks." Samuel clipped the ball to his belt. "I think it's going to fit in just fine."
Behind them, Axel watched with an expression that was impossible to read. His Rotom hovered beside him, its orange body flickering with quiet curiosity.
"You're all getting stronger," Axel said. "Good. You'll need to be."
Briv stepped forward, his hand on Chimchar's Poké Ball. "What do you mean?"
Axel's eyes met his. "The Eclipse Squad isn't just recruiting. They're hunting. Gathering. And they've got a list."
"A list of what?"
"Trainers." Axel's mouth curved into a humorless smile. "Rising stars. The ones who might threaten their plans. They're looking for you. All of you."
The words hung in the air, heavy as stone.
"How do you know that?" Patricia asked.
Axel reached into his jacket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. He handed it to Briv. "Because I found this in Jack's office. Before you did."
Briv unfolded it. His blood turned cold.
Names. A dozen of them. And at the top of the list, written in red ink and underlined twice, was his own.
"Briv Ambertone," he read aloud.
"Patricia Crownleaf," Patricia said, her voice shaking.
"Nicola Sunfall."
"Dariana Brightone."
"Samuel Moodsway."
"They're not just hunting," Axel said. "They're planning something. Something big. And they want to make sure you're not around to stop it."
Samuel looked at the Carnivine's Poké Ball on his belt. Then at his friends—his family—standing beside him.
"Then we'd better get stronger," he said. "All of us."
He turned and walked out of the ravine, his Doduo falling into step beside him, both heads scanning the horizon.
Behind him, the others followed.
And for the first time, the weight of what was coming settled over all of them.