The day at the local gym had started as an exciting adventure for Jake, his family and friends. The tournament celebrating royal visit was in full swing, drawing trainers and visitors from across the region. Participants, regardless of skill level, were invited to borrow a random Pokémon and test their mettle in one-on-one battles. It was a rare chance for even non-trainers to step into the shoes of a gym challenger.
Jake and the other kids had been thrilled to join in, each battling with a mix of strategy, nerves, and excitement. While none of them made it far in the competition, the experience had been unforgettable, and they eagerly cheered on the remaining matches as spectators. But as the battles continued, restlessness set in, and a Monika's suggestion to explore the vast, historical gym was met with unanimous enthusiasm.
Their exploration led them down quiet hallways adorned with portraits and photographs of past gym leaders, each one more awe-inspiring than the last. They marveled at the powerful Pokémon depicted alongside their trainers—mighty Golems, regal Torterras, and even the legendary silhouette of Groudon in one ancient painting.
But the awe turned to terror when they reached the end of the hall, where a grand mirror stood like a silent sentinel. At first, Monika playfully admired her reflection, imagining herself as a future gym leader. But something strange happened—her reflection shifted, replaced by a sinister man with a cruel grin and an eyepatch. Before anyone could react, the surface of the mirror rippled, and a swirling grey portal opened.
With a chilling grin, the man's hand reached out, grabbed Monika, and pulled her through the portal. Her terrified screams echoed in the hallway as the kids stood frozen in shock. Jake, paralyzed with fear, could only watch as his cousin disappeared into the unknown. The portal pulsed ominously before it began to fade, leaving behind a stunned group of children and an empty mirror that now reflected only their wide-eyed faces filled with dread.
Monika was gone.
Jake stood frozen, unable to believe what he was seeing. The shadowy figure of the man carrying Monika flickered and warped, his stride unwavering as he moved deeper into the dark, unfamiliar world beyond the portal. But then the man's shadow itself began to ripple and quiver, and from the darkness emerged a hulking, spectral form—Frank's loyal Houndstone, Goofy.
===
Houndstone
Level: 57 to 59
Name: Goofy
Gender: Male
Type: Ghost
Affinity: Dark (Full), Ground (Beginner)
Moves: Lick (57 to 58), Tackle (50 to 52), Bite (54), Dig (51), Sandstorm (48 to 50), Play Rough (55), Headbutt (55), Shadow Ball (56), Phantom Force (44), Charm (40), Double-edge (39), Protect (36), Confuse Ray (50), Hex (51), Bulldoze (46), Mud Shot (40), Psychic Fangs (35), Will-O-Wisp (29 to 33), Disable (26 to 30)
Abilities:
Sand Rush – Boosts Houndstone's speed in a sandstorm
Fluffy – Halves the damage taken from moves that make direct contact, but double that of Fire-type moves
Weak to: (Ghost), Dark
Immune to: Normal, Fighting
Resistant to: Poison, Bug
Weakness Removed: Ghost
===
Jake gasped in shock as Goofy materialized fully, growling low, its spectral eyes blazing with fury. The kids behind him yelped and clutched each other, but Jake couldn't look away. Goofy's presence was both surprising and oddly terrifying.
For a moment, the spectral hound crouched, ready to pounce on the man who held Monika. Its growls deepened as it assessed the situation, but then it caught sight of the portal—the only connection between its world and the terrified children outside. The shimmering portal reflected Jake's wide-eyed, pale face.
Goofy froze, its growl faltering. It turned its gaze back to Monika, who was kicking and screaming in the man's grip, her cries echoing through the strange place. Then, with a reluctant whimper, it made its decision.
The spectral Pokémon stepped away from the man, its form shimmering as an eerie glow began to radiate from its bony frame. Jake could only watch in confusion as the Houndstone spun around and locked eyes with him through the portal. Then, as if gathering all its strength, Goofy silently howled. The portal, which had been steadily shrinking, suddenly stopped closing.
The children gasped audibly.
"What's going on?!" one of them cried, clutching another.
Jake's heart raced, torn between the relief that the portal had stopped closing and the terrifying uncertainty of what might happen next. Before he could think further, his own shadow twisted unnaturally beneath him, moving of its own accord. He stumbled back with a cry as another Pokémon erupted from the dark folds of his silhouette.
The children screamed as a lithe, elegant Decidueye flew out, its feathers gleaming with a spectral light. Jake recognized the Pokémon immediately—Maya, his mother's loyal partner.
===
Decidueye
Level: 59 to 60
Name: Maya
Gender: Female
Type: Grass / Ghost
Affinity: Grass (Full), Ghost (Full), Flying (Expert)
Moves: Phantom Force (56), Take Down (55), Light Screen (52), Sunny Day (50 to 53), Confuse Ray (50), Hex (56), Growl (49), Leafage (48), Spirit Shackle (56 to 58), Shadow Sneak (52), Razor Leaf (53), Synthesis (42), Nasty Plot (53 to 54), Sucker Punch (55), Feather Dance (49), Brave Bird (59), Leaf Blade (56 to 57), Poltergeist (58), Low Kick (45), Air Cutter (43), Aura Sphere (38), Frenzy Plant (46 to 47), Grassy Terain (53), Roost (55)
Abilities:
Overgrow – With low health, Decidueye's Grass-type moves are powered up
Long Reach – Decidueye uses its moves without making contact with the target
Weak to: Flying, Ghost, Fire, Ice
Immune to: Normal, Fighting
Resistant to: Ground, Water, Grass, Electric
Weakness removed: Dark
===
"Maya, you're here!" Jake exhaled, his voice a mix of astonishment and hope.
Maya emerged gracefully in front of him but didn't spare him a glance. Her usual calm demeanor was replaced by a visible unease, her eyes darting between the portal and the distant figure of Monika being carried away. Her feathers ruffled as she seemed to make a decision. Closing her eyes, she began to glow faintly, her energy coalescing into the portal.
The portal completely stopped shrinking.
"Maya, what are you doing?!" Jake asked, his voice trembling as he stepped closer to her. He reached out instinctively, but Maya didn't respond.
Instead, a voice echoed in his mind, strange and ethereal, yet unmistakably Maya's.
"Jake! Get help!" the voice urged, trembling with fear and urgency.
Jake froze, staring at Maya as the glow around her intensified. He couldn't understand what was happening, but one thing was clear: they were running out of time.
Jake's heart raced as he turned towards the other kids.
His voice cracked with urgency as he shouted, "We need to find some grown-ups! We need help! There are royal guards here, they can help us! Quickly!"
The kids, still shaken, didn't need much convincing. They began running in the direction Jake pointed, all of them terrified and desperate to get help. Or to get to their parents. Jake hesitated for a moment, his eyes lingering on the figure of the man with the eyepatch, who was slowly walking away, still carrying Monika. She was kicking and screaming, but Jake couldn't do anything. The portal was still there, and his cousin was being taken away.
He turned and sprinted down the hall, shouting for help.
"HELP!" he cried, the word tearing out of him.
But before he could make it far, a cold, harsh voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Silence!" the voice hissed.
"Why are you running here, screaming like an Exploud? Don't you know where you are?"
Jake froze. The voice belonged to Viktor Vranitzky, father of Mark and one of the chief leaders of the gym. He was also the head of the blue team, specializing in ice and flying types. Viktor's cold, piercing stare bore down on him, and Jake instantly felt his knees go weak.
"I… I…" Jake stammered, unable to form words as the weight of Viktor's presence crushed his confidence.
Viktor sneered, crossing his arms.
"Well? Do you have some explanation? Your visit in the gym is over, since you cannot behave!"
Jake finally took a shaky breath, struggling to find his voice.
"But Monika was taken. She was taken through the mirror!"
Viktor's expression soured even more.
"What a fairytale. You people from that stupid ranch have no manners."
Jake's words rushed out, desperate.
"But sir! Monika was pulled through a portal in the room with all the gym leaders! There was a man with an eyepatch! He took her!"
Viktor snorted and shook his head, clearly dismissing Jake's words.
"A portal in a mirror? A man with an eyepatch? Do you take me for a fool?"
Jake gritted his teeth, frustration building.
"I'm telling the truth! You have to believe me!"
But Viktor just glared at him, unmoving.
"I'm not in the mood for some nonsense games. You'll be leaving this gym immediately."
After Viktor told Jake to get out of his sight, Jake's panic flared. He couldn't let it end like this, not with Monika still in danger. He tried again, his voice trembling with urgency.
"But there is the portal! It's closing, and Maya with Goofy are trying to keep it open!"
Viktor snorted dismissively, not even looking at Jake.
"I don't have time for your children's games," he muttered, clearly uninterested.
Before Jake could respond, Viktor grabbed him by the elbow with surprising force, pulling him away from the hallway.
"I'm escorting you out. You will be given a warning. Consider yourself lucky."
Jake was speechless as Viktor dragged him away.
"Goofy… what a strange name to give to the child," Viktor mumbled.
Jake tried to yank his arm free, his voice rising in desperation.
"But Goofy's not a kid. It's Uncle Frank's Pokémon!"
Viktor's brow furrowed at that and he asked with his cold voice.
"You brought your own Pokémon in here, against the direct orders of the gym and of the royal guards?"
Jake was speechless, but the gravity of Viktor's glare made his knees weaken. Viktor's voice dropped lower, laced with scorn.
"Such disrespect. Just like your parents."
With a swift motion, Viktor let go of Jake's elbow. His hand moved to his belt, pulling out a Pokéball. Jake's heart sank as the ball clicked open, revealing a Xatu.
"You're coming with me, boy," Viktor said coldly, his eyes narrowing.
"And then we will all go to the police, together with your uncle's Pokémon!"
In an instant, a flash of white light enveloped them. Jake barely had time to react before he found himself and Viktor transported to the room with the paintings. The world seemed to spin as they appeared in the hallway where the images of the past gym leaders lined the walls. Jake looked around frantically, his thoughts still locked on Monika.
"Please, let it not be too late.."
Xatu teleported into the room, followed by the angry figure of Viktor and the pale, shivering Jake. The sudden appearance of the Pokémon and the tense atmosphere startled everyone. Jake's heart raced in his chest, and he felt a wave of dread wash over him as he saw the portal still rippling in the mirror, with Maya the Decidueye and Goofy the Houndstone working together to keep it open.
Viktor froze in his tracks. His sharp cold gaze flicked from the portal to Jake, and then to the Pokémon who were feeding their energy into it.
"What the hell?!" Viktor muttered, his voice laced with disbelief. His eyes darkened with anger as he looked back at the young pale boy.
"So, you brought more Pokémon here?? And they're creating portals?? Are you kidding me??"
He glared at Jake, who was frozen in place, unable to respond. His body trembled with fear, and his eyes were wide with tears, his mind torn between the need to stop Viktor and the overwhelming worry for Monika.
"But Mo... Monika..." Jake stuttered, his voice barely audible as he looked at the portal. Maya was slumped over in exhaustion, as was Goofy. Both Pokémon were struggling to maintain the fragile link between this world and wherever Monika had been taken. The effort was clearly draining them, and Jake could see that they were near their limit.
Viktor's eyes narrowed as he watched the portal. For a second, he wasn't sure whether to let the Pokémon continue their work or to intervene before things got further out of hand.
"This is over. Stop that, or I will stop you."
Viktor's voice was cold and threatening, and he motioned to his Xatu. The bird-like Pokémon focused intently, and Viktor reached for another Pokéball, calling out a Glalie.
"Stop that Decidueye. I don't want any portal here."
Maya's eyes widened in alarm as Viktor issued his commands. Her feathers ruffled, and a wave of fear swept through Jake as he stepped forward.
"No!" Jake shouted, his voice rising in panic. He stood in front of his mother's Decidueye, his arms spread wide as if he could shield her from the impending attack.
"You can't! Maya is trying to save Monika!"
Viktor's cruel smile twisted into something even darker. He stepped closer, unbothered by Jake's protest.
"My Pokémon will attack your Decidueye, whether you're standing in their way or not. I advise you to step aside, boy."
Viktor's words were sharp, like a knife slicing through Jake's resolve.
"Jake! No!" Maya's tired voice rang in Jake's mind, urging him to move, but he didn't budge.
"Ice Beam!" Viktor barked. His Glalie opened its mouth and ice-type energy began charging inside.
Jake's heart pounded in his ears, his entire body trembling, but he remained rooted in place, his eyes wide with fear for Monika and his desperate need to protect Maya.