...
At a café in Opelucid City, Natsu took a slow, deliberate sip of his smooth, bitter coffee, enjoying the sweet aftertaste. "Damn, that sweetness after the bitterness hits different," he murmured, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
He watched Eevee and Vulpix roughhousing on the table. Natsu couldn't help but smile as he saw Vulpix let out a soft sigh, tiny ice crystals and Icirrus swirling around Eevee's body.
"Eevv~Ev~~"
Eevee shivered instinctively, her grey fur gaining a slight frosty sheen. "Holy shit, is it cold in here, or is that just me?" she probably thought.
"Vull?"
Vulpix looked genuinely surprised by Eevee's reaction, quickly tucking her head into her fluffy tail, like a kid hiding from a chore.
"Ev~ Ev~"
Eevee shook violently twice, sending crystal ice fragments scattering across the table.
Vulpix peeked through her tail. Seeing Eevee was fine, she relaxed, but then Eevee's tiny mouth curved into a mischievous grin. She pounced on Vulpix, using her paws and tail. She was deploying her unique ability, "Tickle"!
Vulpix's laughter was bright and crisp, like colliding ice crystals, a joyous sound following immediately.
"Alright, settle down, you two rascals," Natsu chuckled, gently placing his hands on both their little heads. "If you keep that racket up, the whole damn café will be staring." He stroked them affectionately, feeling the softness on one side and the coolness on the other. "My thoughts are almost sorted. Time to get some real shit done."
"Eevv!"
"Vull!"
The two Pokémon looked up, practically vibrating with excitement. Getting to work alongside Natsu was the absolute best for them.
Natsu slowly stood up. "Let's go get what's rightfully ours first."
As they left the café, a pair of curious eyes emerged from a dimly lit booth high above, watching Natsu, Eevee, and Vulpix walk away.
...
...
...
Lacunosa Town. What a dump, honestly. It's a pretty unremarkable town in the Unova Region, lacking modern buildings or even a Pokémon Gym. All it had were these old, creepy legends.
According to the local folklore, a meteorite crashed into Lacunosa Town ages ago, bringing with it a terrifying, sinister-faced beast. This monster supposedly showed up at night, surrounded by ice, and apparently enjoyed snatching up humans and Pokémon to eat them. No wonder Lacunosa Town was surrounded by a massive wall, and they even had a strict nighttime curfew. Who the hell wants to be monster chow?
But for hunters, this place was a godsend. Northeast of Lacunosa Town lay a vast forest, teeming with wild Pokémon. The deeper you went, the fewer humans you saw, and the stronger and more valuable the wild Pokémon became.
And Lacunosa Town's curfew?
That just made it easier for hunters to operate aggressively under the cover of darkness. Of course, this convenience wasn't just for the Hunter's Guild. Some opportunistic thieves and even Team Plasma found it to be a damn good spot too.
Natsu rode Latios down from the sky, landing quietly in the forest outside Lacunosa Town.
Crack--
The moment his foot landed on a dead branch, Natsu instinctively gazed into the distance.
A mountain-like formation loomed in the clouds, resembling a colossal, gaping maw. That was the "Giant Chasm," once a mine, but now completely abandoned for some reason. Like that old, rusty car you swear you'll fix someday.
After an unknown period of eerie silence, the "Giant Chasm" wasn't a place you could just waltz into anymore. A shitload of wild Pokémon lived around it, mainly Ice-types. And due to the special environment, these Ice-types were incredibly strong and thrived.
Especially a group of Cryogonal, whose numbers were unknown but rumored to be fiercely united. They'd attack anyone or any Pokémon who dared approach without permission. Even the Hunter's Guild, those bastards specializing in capturing wild Pokémon, wouldn't touch that place with a ten-foot pole.
Others might not know why, but Natsu knew the score. It was all because of the Legendary Pokémon, Kyurem, dubbed the "Strongest Dragon." Forget breaking through the wild Pokémon; even if you somehow managed to breach their defenses and enter the "Giant Chasm," facing Kyurem meant only one damn outcome: Game Over, buddy!.
While the "Strongest Dragon" title was a bit overblown, Kyurem's power was still absolutely terrifying. Natsu wasn't dumb enough to stir up trouble now. Maybe if he somehow earned the recognition of one of the ideal and real dragons, he might stand a chance of exploring it. Until then, it was a hard pass.
"Evv~~"
Eevee, digging through the ground, cried out, pointing to a discarded packaging bag in a pile of fallen leaves.
Natsu patted her head with a smile. "Even if it's a trace of human activity, it's not uncommon here. We gotta keep pushing deeper, sweetie."
"Eevv."
Hearing this, Eevee's ears drooped, and she lightly kicked the ground in frustration. Natsu's smile widened.
"However, Eevee, your observation skills are sharp as hell, and I'll be counting on you later."
"Evv!"
Upon hearing Natsu's praise, Eevee's head shot up, adopting an "Oh, don't you worry, leave it all to me!" expression.
Natsu tossed out another Poké Ball, calling out Monferno. Since Beedrill had hit quasi-Elite level, Natsu finally had more energy to train these younger Pokémon. While focusing on Beedrill's strength, having at least six main Pokémon on hand was Natsu's absolute top priority right now.
Professor Oak had hinted at a competition coming up, one that might even be bigger than the "Lily of the Valley Youth Tournament." Natsu had a gut feeling it wouldn't be some small-time affair like the Lily Valley one. Six main forces should be the bare minimum. Beedrill and the gang's power would undoubtedly enter a slower growth period, making this the perfect time for Monferno and Latios to catch up.
"Let's move," Natsu commanded his Pokémon. "According to the hunters who actually made it out alive, they started from here, passed through the 'Giant Chasm,' and headed towards 'Undella Bay'." He lifted his foot and started walking.
His four Pokémon also showed various expressions.
Monferno clenched his fists, the flames on his tail flickering with anticipation. He was eager for a brawl.
Latios looked pretty excited too. In Rayquaza's space, he'd seen the formidable Hydreigon and the even stronger Rayquaza. He also witnessed the sheer power Beedrill unleashed when they worked together. He yearned to become stronger himself.
It's worth mentioning that Natsu hadn't told Latios that Ono was actually his younger sister, Latias. That might lead to an awkward family reunion.
Eevee marched at the front, head held high, her ability making her an excellent "scout" in Alakazam's absence.
This was Vulpix's first outing without her mother, and she timidly followed close to Natsu's feet, her Icirrus-like tail held high, looking ready to bury her head in it at any moment. Natsu wasn't forcing Vulpix to be a frontline fighter like Monferno just yet. She'd get there.
But now what?
A Quick and Dirty Brawl
Latios blasted through the forest at high speed, surprising Natsu with his eagerness to fight wild Pokémon. Latios didn't have to wait long. A group of scrawny Liepard spotted them, clearly eyeing them as prey.
Liepard are common as dirt in this forest. They're temperamental bastards who like to quietly creep up on their opponents with light movements, then launch a sneak attack for a fatal blow. Typical cowardly tactics.
However, their sneak attack was anything but sudden to Eevee. Eevee, leading the charge, didn't expose them. Instead, she winked and gestured to Monferno and Latios. The two Pokémon immediately understood. Their silent understanding allowed them to plan their own damn tactics on the fly. Eevee provided the intel, Latios formulated the attack, and Monferno was the vanguard.
Only Vulpix looked utterly clueless, not understanding what the hell they were planning.
"Don't panic, just follow my lead," Natsu's gentle voice echoed in Vulpix's head. Hearing his calm tone, Vulpix's confusion, unsure of how to face the approaching threat, eased, and she nodded emphatically.
"Os!"
Following Latios's roar, the Liepard perched on the branches, ready to pounce, were alerted. Before they could react, Latios blurred, and Monferno appeared in his spot. An iron fist wrapped in crimson energy plummeted, along with the snow-white crystals shaken from Eevee's body, as if sinking into the target. The punch slammed into one of the Liepard's cheeks.
Only a sickening "click" was heard, and the Liepard dropped from the branch, hitting the ground like a sack of bricks. It barely shifted its gaze before it was out cold. Fucking pathetic.
The surrounding Liepard finally reacted.
"Vulpix, Icy Wind," Natsu's voice instructed in Vulpix's head.
"Vulll——"
Despite this being Vulpix's first real battle, she'd seen her mother fight before. Cold air mixed with Icirrus blasted from her mouth. Monferno spread his palms, flames engulfing him. As the flames expanded, Vulpix's "Icy Wind" didn't affect him one bit. Instead, the remaining Liepard suddenly felt a sharp drop in temperature and shivered, their movements sluggish. Small Icirrus ice crystals drifted from the sky, intensifying the impact of the sudden cold on the Liepard.
"Oss!"
A scorching "Dragon Breath" erupted from Latios, knocking another one flat.
"Ev!"
Eevee's short legs moved like a blur; "Quick Attack" made her lightning fast, sweeping away another Liepard.
Monferno delivered the final blows. With an effortless leap, his body spun in the air, expertly avoiding the two remaining Liepard. A punch to the belly of the Liepard above him, and a swift kick to the head of the one below.
Bang! Bang!
With the last two Liepard down, what seemed like a sneak attack ended in a flash, thanks to Natsu's Pokémon getting the jump on them.
"Eev~~"
Eevee, Latios, and Monferno high-fived, then approached Vulpix, smiling at her.
"Vull~~"
Vulpix blinked her wide, watery blue eyes, utterly surprised. This was her first real battle, and she hadn't expected it to be so damn easy after working with Latios and the others. Those Liepard, who looked fierce and cunning, were surprisingly unable to withstand a single blow. Vulpix giggled, squinting her eyes, and, mimicking Eevee, high-fived them one by one.
The Pokémon exchanged smiles, a silent testament to their budding teamwork.
After this battle, Vulpix's courage steadily grew. She began walking further and further from Natsu, her self-confidence quickly blooming. Good for her.
Natsu smiled, watching the little ones, saying nothing, but anyone with sharp eyes could see the deep satisfaction etched in his expression.
Latios's decision-making ability was getting sharper. With Alakazam absent, he was linking things together logically, becoming a true leader.
And Monferno? His fighting skills and fire ability had improved at a ridiculous pace. Natsu felt his body could barely contain his progress. Monferno's evolution wasn't far off, thank God.
As for Eevee, she finally stopped being a pure supporter. Under Natsu's deliberate guidance, she'd developed some damn good offensive abilities.
Vulpix still had a long way to go, but she was off to a hell of a start.
From then on, the battles they encountered were pretty much the same as with the Liepard. Since they ventured deeper into the forest and moved east, not north, the strength of the wild Pokémon didn't change much. Only the section of the road near the "Giant Chasm" was a bit more challenging.
Fortunately, Natsu didn't actually go deep into the "Giant Chasm." It just caused some minor headaches for his Pokémon. However, Natsu distinctly felt Latios's brief oddness when passing the "Giant Chasm." He seemed affected in some way. But after they passed it, Latios returned to normal. Probably just a momentary hiccup.
And as the "Giant Chasm" was less frequently traveled, the traces left by the Hunter's Guild forces became easier to spot.
As night fell, Natsu and the others stopped, finding a place near a water source to make camp. Natsu, sitting by the bonfire, frowned slightly. The branch in his hand traced a simple route map on the ground.
"The hunter traces are obvious this way, but most of them are from capturing Pokémon, with no signs of fierce battles. Everything seems to be going smoothly. So the problem must be in the second half, then?" Natsu had initially suspected that "Mr. S" had targeted the "Giant Chasm." Now, it seemed "Mr. S" was smart enough to know not to stir up that hornets' nest.
"Bart ya!"
Suddenly, as Natsu was still pondering, Dragapult appeared beside him, her expression gravely serious.
"What's wrong, buddy?"
Ka-ka-ka—
A thick layer of ice crystals surged towards them. Almost instantly, the dense forest transformed into an ice-laden wasteland. Natsu shot to his feet, staring west, where the ice spread from the direction of the "Giant Chasm." His Pokémon also sensed the sudden, chilling change, gathering instinctively around Natsu.
"I avoided it, for fuck's sake," Natsu muttered, frustration evident in his tone.
"Bartya." Dragapult glanced at Natsu's backpack, where a faint green neon light was flashing.
Natsu pulled it out, a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth. It was a goddamn Rayquaza Scale!
It looked like Kyurem had sensed Rayquaza's aura and thought its territory was being infiltrated. And Rayquaza's aura was certainly enough to get its attention.
Originally, Natsu had passed by quickly, so Kyurem had stayed calm. But now, camping not too far from the "Giant Chasm," that had definitely pissed off Kyurem.
At this moment, the "Giant Chasm," which was just a huge mountain, transformed in Natsu's eyes into the roaring, monstrous head of Kyurem itself.
While Kyurem was a Legendary Pokémon with a notoriously fierce personality, possessing strong hostility towards both humans and Pokémon (as proven by centuries of legends in Lacunosa Town), as long as you didn't actively provoke it, Kyurem shouldn't be that hostile to ordinary Pokémon or even humans.
But for Rayquaza...
It's said that Kyurem is an extraterrestrial Pokémon, landing in the Unova Region with a meteorite. And if a meteorite wants to enter the Pokémon world, it has to get past... Rayquaza. Oh, for crying out loud.
"Are you seriously forcing my hand to piss someone off, you cosmic bastard?" Natsu pressed his forehead, utterly exasperated. Don't even talk about disturbing it; even if you could, if Rayquaza showed up in the Unova Region, Natsu would have to face not just Kyurem, but also the Forces of Nature, and even Ideal and Real would wake up. That's a whole damn mess.
Don't disturb it. Can't we just hide, for once?
"Fuck it, let's keep going, as far as possible from the 'Giant Chasm'," Natsu decided quickly. Kyurem's movement was just a warning. And if it was just a warning, there was still room to maneuver. He wasn't about to stick around and find out what Kyurem did for an encore.
With his group of Pokémon, he continued to move east through the night.
A Silent Departure
After Natsu and his Pokémon left, the dying bonfire outlined a tiny silhouette in the corner, beautiful eyes accompanied by a subtle sound.
The sound traveled a very long distance, and the ice around it began to recede quickly.
The small silhouette that received feedback had crescent-shaped eyes, twinkling mischievously.
"Eevv~~Vull ~~Osios~~MelMel~~"
In fact, from its mouth came the clear, joyful laughter of Eevee, Vulpix, and Latios. It seemed to be soaking in the happy sounds.
The fire went out.
This tiny silhouette also quietly vanished into the forest, leaving no trace behind.
...
(End of this chapter)
Can you fucking guess, buddy?