"You've worked hard—come back and rest."
Gary recalled Rhyperior to its Poké Ball and followed Eevee deeper underground.
The tunnel was pitch black. Besides Lunatone, he occasionally spotted Zubat and Golbat hanging from the ceiling, all fast asleep. He took care not to disturb them.
Guided by the sound of running water—always a magnet for wild Pokémon—Gary pressed on. With Eevee's help, the journey was effortless: obstacles were pushed aside with Psychic, and ledges were crossed by levitating him over them. Read full story at 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹•𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒•𝙣𝙚𝙩
Soon they reached an underground river. Shining his flashlight across the surface, Gary could clearly see the Pokémon swimming below:
[Lv. 25 Magikarp / Normal]
[Lv. 18 Goldeen / Normal]
[Lv. 15 Barboach / Normal]
All common species, even Barboach wasn't unusual in Hoenn.
"It really looks like people live down here," Gary mused. The paths on both banks were too neat to be natural—perhaps carved out by the Draconid tribe, leading to Meteor Village.
He followed the river to a small waterfall—nothing remarkable there.
"Guess we'll have to dig again."
Picking a dry spot, he released Rhyperior.
Before Rhyperior could start digging, the ground nearby burst open—and a white, dome-shaped shell emerged.
[Lv. 35 Shelgon / Champion]
Gary hadn't expected to find one so soon.
Shelgon looked equally startled. Spotting Gary, it tried to wriggle backward into the tunnel.
"Stop it with Psychic!" Gary ordered.
Eevee's Psychic yanked the Shelgon out and slammed it against the cavern wall. Its tough shell absorbed most of the hit, but the impact enraged it. Shelgon glared at Gary and charged—though at a slow, lumbering pace.
"Rhyperior, light Ice Punch—don't overdo it."
Rhyperior strolled over and tapped Shelgon with a restrained, chilled fist.
Shelgon toppled over, unconscious.
Gary threw a ball—but it bounced off the shell and rolled away.
Baffled, he pressed the Poké Ball directly against Shelgon's shell. A red barrier flared: capture blocked.
"It already has a Trainer."
Gary frowned. "Who'd leave such a valuable Shelgon alone down here?"
Since Shelgon had surfaced from the lower level, its Trainer was likely still below.
"Rhyperior, dig along the hole it came through."
Rhyperior nodded and began enlarging the tunnel while Gary sprayed a Potion onto the fainted Shelgon. It would take time for it to recover, so Gary kept it close.
"Eevee, good practice: levitate Shelgon."
Despite its 200-plus-kilogram weight, Eevee—already used to lifting cars—managed to hoist it with Psychic.
With Rhyperior clearing debris and Eevee floating it away, the passage opened quickly. Eevee then levitated both Gary and Shelgon down to the lower level.
"That's odd—there's light down here."
A faint green glow filled the chamber. Embedded in the walls were clusters of luminous crystals.
"What kind of stone is that?"
"Rhyperior, break off a piece."
Rhyperior shattered a cluster with Iron Head. Gary collected several fragments in a vial for later study.
Shelgon stirred, humming in alarm at its immobility.
Eevee gently set it down but kept it restrained with Psychic in case it tried to flee.