Pidgey filled the sky.
Thousands of them.
They burst out of the forest—
In complete panic.
Some even slammed into trees mid-flight—
Before shakily rejoining the fleeing flock.
That alone—
Was abnormal.
Pidgey were timid Pokémon.
They avoided conflict.
Even when attacked—
They preferred escape over fighting.
At most—
They'd kick up sand and flee.
But this?
A mass evacuation?
Something was very wrong.
"Did they run into something strong?" Aurore frowned.
"…Feels more like they're fleeing."
"Most likely," Ethan nodded.
"And no one would bother driving off Pidgey for no reason."
They stayed hidden behind a tree—
Watching the chaotic escape.
Only after the sky cleared—
Did they step out.
"…What could scare them this much?"
Feathers littered the ground.
Signs of panic.
"Let's go check."
They moved toward where the flock had come from.
But not far ahead—
They froze again.
Another group.
This time—
Not just one species.
A mixed stampede.
Dozens—
Hundreds—
Different Pokémon—
All fleeing together.
"…This is bad," Ethan muttered.
If it were just Pidgey—
It might've been territory conflict.
But this?
All species reacting the same way?
That meant—
Disaster.
"…Pidgey can fly," Aurore said slowly.
"So they escaped first."
"Exactly."
They hid again.
This herd was far larger.
Getting caught in it—
Would be dangerous.
After it passed—
Ethan made a decision.
"No more walking."
He mounted Metagross—
Taking to the sky.
From above—
The situation became clear.
Everywhere—
Pokémon were fleeing.
All in the same direction.
Ethan's expression darkened.
"…This direction…"
Too familiar.
The Hala Volcano Cluster.
They had just left two days ago.
What could've happened—
In just two days?
When they arrived—
They were stunned.
Silence.
No Pokémon.
No trainers.
The once lively volcanic region—
Was now—
A battlefield.
Crater rims shattered.
Volcanoes collapsed into lava pits.
Flames burned across the land.
Scorched earth.
Destruction everywhere.
"…What happened here…?" Ethan muttered.
Now—
They understood.
Why everything had fled.
If the fires spread—
The entire mountain range could burn.
"…Where's that Typhlosion?" Aurore asked.
The Totem Peak one—
"Xiao Huo."
Nowhere to be seen.
Too strange.
Then—
A flash of light.
A Poké Ball opened.
Typhlosion appeared.
Aurore's Typhlosion.
Its flames surged instantly—
Temperature rising sharply.
"Who did this?!"
It had sensed something—
Even from inside the Poké Ball.
And now—
Seeing this destruction—
It was furious.
"Can you sense Xiao Huo?" Ethan asked quickly.
Typhlosion shook its head.
"…Damn."
Ethan exhaled.
"For now—we put out the fire."
That was priority.
If the wildfire spread—
Countless Pokémon would lose their homes.
They released their Pokémon.
And began suppression.
Ice.
Water.
Control.
Especially—
Mamoswine.
With a single move—
Large sections of fire vanished.
Within an hour—
The flames were gone.
Stability restored.
But—
The real problem remained.
Xiao Huo.
Missing.
"Ethan?!"
A familiar voice called out.
He turned—
His father.
Victor Stone.
Arriving on a flying Pokémon.
"Dad? What are you doing here?"
"What do you think?" Victor said.
"Totem Peak Pokémon rampaging."
"You think I can ignore that?"
He sighed.
"I was even considering calling you if I couldn't handle it."
Ethan and Aurore exchanged a look.
Totem Peak.
There was only one.
"…You mean a Typhlosion?" Ethan asked carefully.
Victor raised an eyebrow.
"You already knew?"
Ethan pointed downward—
At Aurore's Typhlosion.
Silence.
The answer—
Was obvious.
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