Nestled between Sandgem Town and Jubilife City lies the Eterna Forest, home to numerous Stantler. These Pokémon possess an innate ability to manipulate their environment, creating illusions to disorient travelers and lead them astray.
Each year, countless people venture into this forest, only to find themselves hopelessly lost. Though many manage to stumble out after a long struggle, the forest has earned a reputation that compels most to avoid it entirely.
However, its untouched nature and abundance of wild Pokémon make it an alluring destination for adventurous trainers seeking to capture rare species.
Take, for instance...
"Let's go. Time to check it out."
Paul shoved his hands into his pockets and stepped onto the path leading into the Eterna Forest, with Elekid trailing behind.
In Paul's memory, the "himself" from the anime had fallen into this very forest during a battle with Ash , disrupted by Team Rocket. It was there that he captured a "barely adequate" Ursaring.
Through rigorous training, that Ursaring grew to be a terrifying powerhouse, rivaling Ash's "bugged Swellow". Nicknamed "The Strongest Sturdy Survivor" and "BUG Bear" by fans, it decimated all opponents save for Ash's Infernape and Brandon's team.
Although this wasn't the same world, Paul had learned from his encounter with the Turtwig that even in parallel universes, certain similarities persisted. That Ursaring, a Pokémon well-suited to his style, was worth searching for in this forest.
Inside, the forest grew significantly darker. Many Pokémon lurked in the shadows, nearly impossible to detect.
Paul remained unfazed, ordering Elekid to defeat any visible Pokémon along the way.
But before long, a Stantler's silhouette flickered in the distance.
The path ahead twisted and split into two. The once-clear sky was now blanketed with ominous clouds, and the surrounding environment darkened.
"Your illusions need work."
Paul glanced around briefly, unimpressed, and continued walking toward what seemed like a dead end. When his hand brushed against a thicket blocking his way, the branches rippled like water, and the illusion dissolved into nothingness.
He pressed on until a sudden dizziness struck him. Closing his eyes briefly, he steadied himself.
When he opened them again, he found himself surrounded by a vast ocean. One step further, and he'd fall into the water.
"Seriously?"
"Bzzt, bzzt!"
Both Paul and Elekid frowned, their expressions dark. A sea in the middle of a forest? They felt insulted by the attempt.
"Elekid, Thunder Wave!"
The simplest way to dispel illusions wasn't to break them but to defeat their creator.
At Paul's command, Elekid rapidly generated electricity, its body crackling with power. In moments, it unleashed a massive lightning bolt into the sky, which exploded into a storm of lightning rain.
"Ahh!"
"Ugh!"
"..."
Cries of shock and pain echoed as the illusion of the ocean shattered like glass, revealing a group of fleeing Sawsbuck.
One particularly large Stantler stood before Paul, enduring the storm while its antlers glowed with a strange purple light, attempting to trap Paul in another illusion.
The purple glow barely rippled in Paul's gaze.
"You think I didn't see you earlier?" Paul said coldly.
"Ugh!"
Realizing it was outmatched, the Stantler tried to flee. But before it could turn, Paul grabbed one of its antlers, swinging the Pokémon in an over-the-shoulder throw.
Snap!
Holding the broken antler, Paul stared at the downed Stantler without emotion.
"Just this once. Next time, you won't be so lucky."
Glancing at the other Stantler that Elekid had subdued with Thunder, Paul tossed the antler aside and continued deeper into the forest.
Pokémon heal quickly; the broken antler would regrow in days. Leaving it behind was more of a warning.
Capture them?
Stantler? What use were such weak Pokémon? In reality, the tradition of evolving Stantler into Wyrdeer had long been lost.
Unlike Ursaring, which held significant potential even without evolving, Stantler had little value.
Paul would only consider capturing one if he found a way to restore their evolutionary line.
"Quick Attack! Go!"
After some time, Paul spotted his first target of the day—a lone Beedrill.
"Bzzt!"
Electricity surged through Elekid's body as it turned into a streak of light, closing in on the Beedrill with a Thunder Punch ready to strike.
Sensing the attack, the Beedrill reacted swiftly, raising its stingers to counter with Fury Attack.
The two clashed in a flurry of rapid strikes. Beedrill's twin stingers moved like lances, while Elekid's Thunder Punches intercepted each blow with precision.
Unfortunately for Beedrill, its lack of one-on-one experience soon became evident.
"Bzzt!"
Seizing an opening, Electivire deflected one stinger and landed a decisive punch on Beedrill, sending it flying.
Before Beedrill could recover, a bolt of lightning struck it, leaving it unconscious.
"Poké Ball, go!"
The Poké Ball flew through the air, opened mid-flight, and absorbed the fainted Beedrill.
Ding... Click!
The capture was a success.
"Bzzt..."
As Paul picked up the Poké Ball, a faint noise reached his ears. It grew louder, approaching rapidly.
"Beedrill swarm?!"
Turning, Paul saw a black cloud of Beedrill—dozens of them—flying straight toward him.
The traces of the earlier battle had drawn their ire, and their eyes glowed with a menacing red light as they charged.
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