" Ash!*

Ash turned from his seat and looked at the door.

There stood Wisty.

Except her foot was wrapped in vines.

" What happened now?!"

Wisty blinked. " Nothing, why?"

" What happened to your foot?" Dawn asked.

Wisty looked down. " This old thing? Nah, it's fine. I only injured it because I was in a volcano collecting rock samples for whatever reason Professor Oak wanted them for when suddenly we were thrown out. I made sure I fell down first though and somehow I landed on my feet. unfortunately i landed on my left leg with more weight then right so...."

Gary blinked. " You're saying -"

" Yes yes yes. Your Grandpa needed something and he asked me to bring it. But hey. He couldn't have asked Tracey. He would have just sketched and maybe become in danger."

" You might want to consider bandaging that the proper way...." Gary muttered.

" Huh? Oh no I'm fine."

She whipped her phone out and dialed Oak's number.

" Hello?"

" Ah, yes, Wisty, my girl, how did the mission go?"

" Good! I got the volcano samples."

" Volcano samples?!" Oak sounded confused.

" Yes. You wanted those right?"

" Wisty when I meant volcano I meant the inactive one behind Rowan's lab."

Wisty blinked. " The enemy has a mountain?"

Ash sighed. " Oh great."

Gary facepalmed, muttering under his breath, "I swear, Wisty's going to be the death of us all one day."

Dawn blinked in astonishment. "You climbed into an active volcano because you thought Professor Oak wanted samples?!"

Wisty shrugged, still holding the phone. "Of course! When the Professor asks for something, I deliver. Besides, it was a lot of fun! The magma was really cool to see up close."

Ash groaned, rubbing his temples. "Cool? You could've been fried! Why didn't you double-check with Oak first?"

"Details, details," Wisty waved dismissively. "I got the job done, didn't I?" She turned her attention back to the phone. "So, Professor, what should I do with these samples?"

Professor Oak sighed on the other end. "Well, Wisty, since you went through so much trouble, send them over to my lab for analysis. But please, next time, confirm what I mean before charging into danger."

"Got it, Professor!" Wisty grinned and hung up, ignoring the incredulous looks from her friends.

"Wisty," Brock said, crossing his arms, "you really need to take better care of yourself. That leg looks bad, and you can't just ignore it."

"It's not that bad!" Wisty protested, taking a step forward. The vines around her foot tightened, making her wince. "See? Totally fine!"

"Wisty, stop pretending you're invincible," Gary scolded. "You're going to hurt yourself worse if you keep this up."

Before Wisty could retort, Pikachu leapt onto Ash's shoulder and pointed at her injured foot. "Pika pika!"

Even Eevee and Togepi chimed in, looking concerned.

" You guys worry too much!"

She turned. " But if it helps I could ride Arky."

Gary sighed. " Sure."

Wisty sighed. " Okay, volcano sample done. Now for the magma. Let's go guys."

Ash's eyes widened as Wisty casually mentioned her next plan. "Wait, Wisty, did you just say magma? As in, you're going back into the volcano?"

Wisty nodded confidently. "Yep! The samples won't collect themselves, you know." She turned to her Arcanine, Arky, who wagged his tail eagerly. "Arky, you ready for some heat?"

"Wisty, no!" Ash grabbed his phone and quickly dialed Professor Oak. The call connected almost instantly.

"Ash, my boy! To what do I owe the-"

"Professor! Did you tell Wisty to go to the mantle of the volcano?!" Ash yelled, his voice tinged with panic.

Oak sounded confused. "The mantle? Of course not! Why on Earth would she think-"

"Too late! She's already heading there!" Ash interrupted.

There was a long pause. Then Oak groaned. "Oh no. Wisty misunderstood me again, didn't she?"

"You think?!"

Oak hung up, immediately calling Wisty's phone.

Meanwhile, Wisty was already scaling down the volcano, Arky carrying her effortlessly over the rough terrain. Her phone buzzed, but she ignored it, focused on the glowing red magma pool below.

"Alright, Arky, nice and easy," Wisty said, pulling out a reinforced container. "Let's grab this and head back before anyone freaks out too much."

Arky barked in agreement, flames licking the air around him as they approached the molten rock. With careful precision, Wisty collected the magma sample and sealed the container.

When she finally returned to the lab hours later, Oak was already on a video call with Professor Rowan, who looked equally exasperated.

Wisty held up the container triumphantly. "Mission accomplished!"

Oak groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Wisty, I explicitly meant the inactive volcano behind Rowan's lab. Not the active one!"

Wisty blinked innocently. "Oh. My bad. But hey, now you've got real magma to study!"

Rowan sighed, slapping his forehead. "Do you ever stop to think, young lady?"

"Not really," Wisty admitted cheerfully.

Ash stared at her in disbelief. "Wisty, you could've gotten seriously hurt!"

Gary shook his head. "She's lucky she didn't fall in."

"Fall in?" Wisty scoffed. "Not with Arky around! He's the best." She patted her Arcanine affectionately, earning a happy bark.

Oak sighed deeply. "Well, I suppose the sample is valuable, but please, Wisty, consult me first next time. I don't want you risking your life unnecessarily."

"Sure thing, Professor!" Wisty chirped, already scribbling notes about her next mission.

Ash groaned. "She's going to give us all gray hair by the end of summer."

Rowan nodded solemnly. "I think I already have a few, thanks to her."

Wisty, ever the whirlwind of chaotic determination, perked up and clapped her hands together. "Alrighty then! Professor Oak, it's time for me to get that dirt sample from the midnight zone! Catch you later!"

Ash nearly dropped his drink. "The what now?!"

Gary groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Oh no. Wisty, don't tell me you're planning to dive into the ocean trench now?"

"Yup!" Wisty replied with a bright grin, as if she were announcing a trip to the park. "Midnight zone dirt samples are super rare, and I'm sure the Professor would love them!"

"Wisty," Dawn interrupted, her voice a mix of disbelief and concern. "That's 10,000 feet underwater! You're not seriously planning to-"

"Bye, Ash, Gary, Dawn, and Brock!" Wisty waved dramatically, already heading out the door.

Ash immediately grabbed his phone and called Professor Oak again. "Professor, please tell me you didn't ask Wisty to go to the midnight zone!"

Oak groaned, his voice tired but not entirely surprised. "Of course not! I'd never ask her to-wait. Did she already leave?!"

"Yes!" Ash yelled, throwing his hands in the air. "She's already on her way!"

Oak sighed deeply, muttering something about needing a vacation. "I'll try to call her, but I doubt she'll pick up once she's set her mind on something."

Meanwhile, Wisty was already preparing her equipment with the help of her loyal Pokémon team. Arky was stretching his legs, while Eevee and Togepi perched on her shoulders, ready for the adventure.

"This is going to be so cool!" Wisty exclaimed, adjusting her gear. "I'll just borrow a submarine and zip down there. Easy peasy!"

Brock shook his head in disbelief. "She's either the bravest person I've ever met or the most reckless."

Gary crossed his arms. "A little of both, I'd say."

Ash groaned, slumping into his seat. "She's going to give all of us gray hair."

Sure enough, Wisty was already out the door and halfway to the marina. Oak's call came through again just as she reached the dock.

"Wisty, listen to me very carefully," Oak began, his tone firm. "You are not going to the midnight zone. It's dangerous, and I never asked for anything from there!"

Wisty blinked at her phone. "You mean you don't need the dirt sample?"

"No!" Oak exclaimed, clearly exasperated.

"Oh." Wisty paused for a moment, then grinned. "Well, too late! I'm already here, so I might as well grab it!"

"WISTY!" Oak groaned.

By the time Ash and the others caught up to her at the marina, Wisty was already out on a research vessel, her Pokémon by her side, waving cheerfully as she prepared for the next wild adventure.