being in the Pokemon world

The sun was just beginning to dip low on the horizon as Alex zipped his backpack shut. Larvesta had finished its warm milk, its fuzzy body now curled in the nest of cloth Alex had fashioned inside his pack. The baby Pokémon gave a tired chirp and flicked its little flames, then burrowed back in for sleep.

"Alright," Alex murmured, tightening the straps on his shoulder. "We've still got daylight. There's a ruin marked on the map just off the main route. Might be worth checking out before nightfall."

Charcadet's eyes flared with excitement, while Riolu—though visibly tired from earlier training—nodded, standing tall beside him. They didn't question Alex's choices anymore. They trusted him.

They moved quickly through the thinning trees, the air growing cooler as they neared the cliffs where the ruins supposedly stood. Unlike the Gym's constructed halls or the cozy Emberhollow houses, this place had been lost to time. Half-buried in the roots of ancient trees and choked with ivy, the ruins looked like the remains of an old fortress swallowed by the earth itself.

As they stepped inside, the stone walls narrowed, and the temperature dipped. Stale air clung to the mossy corridors. Alex pulled out his flashlight, the weak beam cutting through the gloom. The stone had carvings—symbols too faded to read, but definitely manmade. And old. Very old.

Riolu flinched.

A deep growl echoed ahead.

"Get ready," Alex said.

Two Pokémon emerged from the dark—wild Honchkrow and a Krokorok, both territorial and clearly hostile. Their eyes locked onto Alex and his team, interpreting them as intruders.

"Charcadet, take Krokorok! Riolu, with me on Honchkrow!"

Flames erupted as Charcadet dashed forward, unleashing a blazing Fire Spin that encircled the ground-type Pokémon. Krokorok roared, sand kicking up as it retaliated with a Bulldoze that shook the floor.

Meanwhile, Honchkrow dove, dark wings spread wide. Riolu leapt into the air to meet it, fists glowing as he landed a Force Palm mid-flight. The impact sent Honchkrow reeling, but it responded with a sharp Night Slash that caught Riolu across the chest.

"Riolu!" Alex shouted, heart hammering.

But the little fighter gritted his teeth and forced himself back up, staggering slightly.

Charcadet let out a growl of his own as he landed a flaming headbutt on Krokorok, knocking it unconscious just in time to pivot toward Riolu.

"Help him—now!"

Charcadet hurled a burst of Ember to force Honchkrow back, giving Riolu just enough time to recover and unleash a final Quick Attack. The bird Pokémon screeched and flapped away, defeated.

Silence returned. Heavy breathing filled the void.

Alex ran to Riolu, kneeling and checking his wounds. He pulled out the last of his potions and a makeshift salve he'd bought cheaply in Emberhollow's corner shop.

"You've done enough, buddy," he whispered, patching him up. "Rest for now."

Riolu slumped against a mossy wall, breathing slowly.

Deeper into the ruin, a new chamber opened—a circular room bathed in pale green light filtering through a broken ceiling. Vines dangled down like jungle curtains. At the center of the room stood a single pedestal, and upon it lay a strange black armor, sharp-edged and faintly glowing red at the seams.

Charcadet stepped forward, eyes wide.

Alex followed, his hand slowly reaching out. As his fingers brushed the armor's surface, a pulse of energy jolted through the air. It was cold and fierce. The words etched into the base of the pedestal were clear despite the erosion:

"Malicious Armor – For warriors who burn with vengeance."

Charcadet's flames flickered violently. His eyes burned with something Alex hadn't seen before—something ancient and dangerous.

He stepped between Charcadet and the armor.

"No," Alex said firmly. "Not yet."

Charcadet blinked, confused.

"I know you want this power. I know you're close," Alex added, placing a hand on his partner's shoulder. "But I want to do this right. You're strong now, but you're still growing. I want you to be ready—fully ready—before you evolve."

For a moment, the chamber was silent. Then Charcadet slowly nodded, the flames on his shoulders calming.

Alex wrapped the armor carefully in cloth and stored it in his pack—beneath the baby supplies, the berries, and the gear he'd scrounged and bought with his leftover money.

He took one last look around the room. The past lay heavy here. It was a place of warriors, of transformations, of old power waiting to awaken again.

But not tonight.

As they left the ruins, the sky above them was streaked orange and purple. Larvesta peeked out again, now fully awake. It chirped curiously and looked at Charcadet and Riolu, sensing their exhaustion.

Alex smiled.

"Don't worry," he said, rubbing Larvesta's fuzzy head. "They'll be fine. And one day, you'll be strong like them, too."

Charcadet walked beside him, quiet and focused. Riolu, though limping slightly, followed close behind. Together, they descended from the ruins as dusk gave way to stars.