Lysa, now wearing her Team Skull uniform, looked down at her Holocaster. She was having a private chat with Guzma on her next assignment. She thought she was alone. Verdant Cavern was extremely beautiful. The sun filtered down through cracks in the ceiling, making the cave look almost fairy-tale-like.
"Lysa, are you at Verdant Cavern?" Guzma's hologram asked.
"Yes sir. I am in position. Those kids will never know what hit them."
"Good."

Gradient pocketed his newest Z accessory: The Fightinium Z. Of course, it would be of no use to Gradient. Perhaps he should sell it off. Gradient didn't know how he won; It was just that both his Pokemon landed so many critical hits... Or maybe just the fact that his Eevee was battle bred. After all, he only had three Pokemon at Level 17.

Gradient decided to do some training at Verdant Cave. The cavern was calm, and the only Pokemon there were Zubats, who at a low level weren't any threat.

A light flashed in the cave, long enough to either be a Holocaster or a Zubat evolving, the latter unlikely. Was that Lysa again? Gradient intended to find out.

Gradient ran silently to the light, skidding to a stop when there was none. Not anymore. Gradient pressed his back to a wall of rock, not daring to even breath. "Pikachu, use TE." Gradient whispered, putting his new system to use. "Litten, ER." Gradient whispered. Both his Pikachu and his Litten followed orders, completely lighting up the somewhat dark cave. Gradient squinted through the light, grabbed a sharp rock, and rounded the corner of the rock wall. The light had to have blinded whoever was there momentarily.

A Team Skull grunt.

Thomas and Yuri heard something behind them in the cavern" Hmm... sounds like that Gradient kids Pokemon..." she said the two looking more serious than when they were with the others. Thomas was holding a strange glowing stone that he slipped in his pack that had a couple of notebooks and other gadgets. " I think they are close, as usual.... too bad we haven't gathered enough data yet" he said blatantly. Riolu hid behind Yuris legs at the mention of "them" clutching her knee tightly.

Rhys grabbed Gradient's arm, dragging him into his hiding space. "Shh, don't let them know we're here, stay hidden" Rhys whispered.

Gradient shook off Rhys' hand, sending a withering glare in his direction. Perfection. A voice hummed into Gradient's mind.

But now was not the time for some acting.

"They already know we're here." Gradient hissed, just like an Ekans. "And it's not 'they', it's her." Gradient told Rhys. Gradient rounded the corner of the rock, Pokemon at his side. He got into a fighting stance.

In, out. Gradient took in some breaths. Relax. His mind told him. You're a black belt in two types of martial arts. If you could fight those thugs that kidnapped you a year ago, you can handle some stupid grunt. Gradient's mind whispers. Gradient's shoulders relaxed slightly. His eyes darted around like rabbits. He smirked.

This was going to be a fun game alright.

Yuri Reached her hand down Grabbing Riolu's paw. " We should get going, we have lost a lot of time already,"she said pulling out a small device operated by the Pokemon they received in the box upon entering " Approximately 20 meters" it said in a monotone voice. Thomas sighed " Two down 5 to go... hope the others don't get held up toolong" he said optimistically walking in the direction the device had pointed.

"I meant they as a gender neutral pronoun, I assumed you would've guessed that 'Mr. Perfection' also, they know you're here, not me, they also wouldn't have seen where you hid" Rhys said quietly. Rhys just crept away, staying as hidden as possible, he went to get a better look at the skull grunt.

"The others better not take long, I want to get to akala as soon as possible, maybe we can stop at a Malasada shop on our way, what do you guys think?" Sylver asked her pokemon as she strolled through Hau'oli, her pokemon happily agreed with her idea. "We'll get malasadas and go to the beach for a day off, right guys?" Her pokemon all cheered in agreement, "Alright, Auris, where's the nearest malasada shop?" Sylver asked the rotom she named Auris, pulling out the rotom dex. "Bzzt No armadas nearby" The rotom buzzed. "No, MALASADA SHOP" Sylver spoke louder and more clearly "Searching for: Mango salt shop- No results found" Sylver just put the Rotom dex away. "Let's just find it ourselves guys" Sylver sighed, looking around at the town.

After they had walked a specified distance the device beeped, Thomas smiled as he flicked a coin in the air. "Heads!" e yelled before Luna leaped over his head using Hyperbeam on a large stalagmite. The rock scoring away revealing a glowing crystal. Yuri let go of Riolu's paw removing the crystal from the rock.and placing it in Thomas' pack. " There... now on Luna's island." she said grabbing back onto Riolu's paw, the two trainers making their way back to the entrance of the cavern

The trainer and her pokemon finally found the Malasadas and got a bagful, her and her team finally got down to the beach. "Alright guys! go wild! wild within reason, please do not inconvenience any other of the beach goers. Hey, where is everyone?" Sylver looked around, the beach was completely empty. After a loud crash of thunder, which startled Marina, it started pouring with no warning. "Eek! rainstorm!" Sylver started running, returning her pokemon to their balls before they could get drenched. Sylver quickly retreated into the pokemon center to wait out the storm.