Chapter 8: Fire and Shadow

Holly crouched low in the underbrush, barely daring to breathe as she adjusted the lens of her camera. She had been following a trail for the past hour, tracking a herd of wild Rapidash through the dense foliage. The thrill of the hunt—both for the perfect shot and for the honing of her skills—was something she relished.

Sakumo was by her side, his fur low to the ground, his eyes sharp as he scanned their surroundings. He had picked up on the faintest of disturbances—subtle shifts in the dirt, the scent of humans where none should be. Holly knew better than to ignore his instincts.

So when she stumbled into a clearing filled with cages, her heart sank.

Team Rocket.

She pressed herself against a tree, her breath steady as she analyzed the scene. The cages were filled with Pokémon in various states of distress—some barely moving, others growling weakly in defiance. A few grunts milled about, chatting, their relaxed stance indicating they weren't expecting trouble.

But what drew her attention most was the unconscious figure near the camp's edge—a Pokémon Ranger, clad in a mud-streaked uniform, their arm twisted at an unnatural angle.

Holly's jaw clenched. This changes everything.

She moved swiftly, her training kicking in.

Step one: Extraction.

She motioned to Sakumo, who understood instantly. With a flick of his tail, he darted through the brush, silent as a shadow, disappearing into the dark. Holly crept forward, staying low as she approached the downed ranger.

The moment she reached them, she checked their pulse—steady but weak. She whispered, "I'm getting you out of here," before looping their arm over her shoulder. The added weight slowed her, but she had trained for this. She could carry them. She had to.

A rustling in the distance told her Sakumo had returned. He let out a low growl, signaling that the path back was clear.

Good.

With careful movements, Holly hauled the ranger onto her back and slipped away into the forest, her heart hammering as she listened for any sign of pursuit.

They made it far enough before she set the ranger down beneath a large, overhanging tree. Safe. For now.

Now for step two: Reconnaissance.

She returned to the cliffside overlooking the camp, crouching low as she scanned the layout. More grunts had arrived—probably a shift change. Holly bit her lip. More security. That means this operation is big.

Her camera clicked, capturing evidence—faces, insignias, the layout of the cages.

Then her gaze fell on something else.

A crate. Not just any crate. Poké Balls. Stacks of them.

They're collecting Pokémon.

Her hands tightened into fists. They were stealing lives.

No hesitation. She turned to Sakumo, her voice a whisper. "We're shutting this down."

Sakumo growled lowly, fire flickering along his fur.

Step three: Chaos.

Holly lit the fire herself. A small burst of Flamethrower into the dry grass near the cages furthest from the prisoners. Smoke curled, then thickened, rising fast.

Shouts rang through the camp.

Grunts scrambled, some cursing, others panicking. The fire spread faster than they anticipated, licking at their supplies, smoke stinging their eyes.

Holly was already moving.

She sprinted into the camp, her Silph Co. bag wide open.

She grabbed Poké Balls, files, anything that looked remotely useful. The bag's endless space swallowed it all, and she barely slowed down.

By the time a grunt spotted her, she was already gone, vaulting over a crate and vanishing into the brush.

Step four: Elimination.

Holly scaled the cliffside, her fingers gripping jagged rock, her breath steady despite the adrenaline surging through her veins. The high ground was hers.

She readied the stolen energy gun, adjusting her stance. It was lightweight but powerful, a weapon meant to stun rather than kill. She wasn't aiming for casualties.

She was aiming for efficiency.

The first shot took out a grunt reaching for his radio.

The second hit a man trying to organize their forces.

By the third, panic had set in.

Some grunts had released their Pokémon, thinking they were under attack from multiple enemies. They were half-right—because Sakumo was waiting.

Flare Blitz.

A burst of gold and red fire illuminated the camp as Sakumo struck hard and fast, taking out a Raticate in one decisive blow before disappearing back into the shadows.

A grunt cursed. "What was that?!"

Sakumo reappeared on the other side of the camp, his Agility allowing him to weave between trees, striking from different angles, never staying in one place long enough to be targeted.

"Come out and fight, coward!" another Rocket yelled.

Holly almost laughed. You have no idea what you're up against.

She took another shot—one of the last standing grunts fell, their weapon clattering to the ground.

The camp was in ruins.

Smoke filled the air. Pokémon cries echoed as the captured ones realized the cages had been broken in the chaos. Some ran, some fought back.

And Team Rocket? They were retreating.

Holly exhaled, lowering her weapon as she surveyed the wreckage.

Step five: Extraction.

She whistled lowly. Within moments, Sakumo was at her side, his fur still smoldering, his body exhausted but victorious.

"We did it," she murmured.

He huffed, tail wagging despite his exhaustion.

Holly slung the bag over her back, her heart still pounding. They had survived.

No—they had won.