They pushed deeper into the forest and kept the pace: Caterpie and Weedle at first, then a Spinarak with forty-five potential, an Oddish at fifty-three, a Shroomish at forty-seven, and a Bellsprout right on fifty.
Big populations meant better picks. Scarce species left no room to be picky—anything over forty got the nod.
By the time they hit six captures—three Bug-types and three Grass-types—they'd reached a broad forest lake. Grass- and Water-types dappled the banks, and a Scyther colony patrolled the far shore.
Reiji and Saya moved softer. One Scyther they could handle. A swarm was a different math.
Luckily the colony's grounds lay past the water. They kept clear.
"So many Water-types," Saya breathed, eyes on the surface play.
"If you see something you like, go for it," Reiji said, reclining against a trunk. "Use Beautifly to soften them up, then capture." The way she bounced along the grass, light and loose—that was what travel was for.
"Me?"
"Trust yourself. You can."
"Where do I start?"
"Those with the leaf on their head—Lotad. Water/Grass. Gentle temperament. Good first target."
She drew a breath and headed for the bank with Beautifly.
Reiji popped a Ball and sent out Kingler. "Stick with her. Keep her safe."
"Kurak, kurak."
Kingler clicked its massive claw and scuttled after her.
"Ah—Kingler!"
Saya sat down hard at the sight of the giant claw. She looked back to Reiji, but he only watched, calm. Kingler hadn't moved to attack; it had planted itself like a guard and scanned the trees. Beautifly explained the rest, and Saya exhaled, embarrassed at the false alarm.
Reiji never stopped watching, even if she couldn't tell. When she got some distance, he let the team out for lunch. Afterward he recalled everyone but Poliwhirl to help rewrap the gauze on his back—the hit from Kinnow Island still ached when he peeled the bandage.
"Reiji-san… let me help"
She'd slipped back with three captures just as he worked at the tape, and the sight of the bruising made her wince.
"Alright. Poliwhirl, hand her the spray."
The work meant close contact. He didn't think much of it; she turned tomato-red and kept her eyes down the whole time. He could have pushed things with a word, a touch. He didn't.
Bandage set, shirt and jacket back on. "What'd you catch?"
"Eh?"
"Water-types. Did you get some?"
"Three."
She passed over the Balls. Reiji skimmed the panels: Lotad potential thirty-five; Azurill thirty-eight; Wooper thirty-three. For housekeeping and grounds? Perfect. Each met the two-stage baseline.
"Good picks. It's getting late. Let's head back."
He recalled Kingler and turned for the trees.
"Please wait, what about… this one?"
She pointed behind her.
A Heracross peeked from behind a trunk, only the head showing.
"When did it start following you?"
"In the woods. I thought it was just passing by, but it trailed me all the way to the lake."
"Heracross, huh." Kind-eyed species. If it had stuck this long, something had hooked it. "Probably the scent off you. Check your pockets."
"Food?" She fished out a sweet. Heracross' eyes went wide.
"This? Do you want this?"
"Kururu."
A quick nod. Honey-based. The smell carried.
"Go on," she said, unwrapping and offering it over.
Heracross took it carefully and ate with obvious delight.
"You can catch it," Reiji said. "It won't fight."
"Really?"
"Only one way to know."
He waved her on and started walking. The result didn't need watching.
The Ball clicked shut without a struggle. She scooped it up and hurried after him.
They reached town near dusk, and yesterday's Scyther stepped into the path again, blades raised at Poliwhirl.
Reiji glanced toward the rooftops visible past the trees. "Head home. I'm catching this Scyther."
"Do you need help?" First time she'd seen one this fierce; she wasn't sure what help she could offer—only that she wanted to.
"I've got it."
He didn't bother with the long speech. Today was the day. Tomorrow they sailed.
"Will you still be at the Pokémon Center tonight?" she asked, three steps back, three steps forward.
"I'll be at the exchange meet."
That settled her. They'd have a chance to cross paths again. She left in short turns, already planning how to sort the ten new Pokémon.
"Sha!"
With the human out of the way, Scyther's eyes sharpened. One more clean fight. This time, it would win.
Reiji didn't send Poliwhirl in immediately. He watched Scyther and set the hook. "Scyther. We leave this island tomorrow. Come with us?"
"Sha."
The blades lowered a fraction. If the human left, then so did the frog that beat it—this would be the last bout.
"One last match. Lose, and come with me. I'll take you to a wider world, stronger foes, and challenges without end."
"This island is small. This forest is smaller. Stay, and you stall. Just like you did—twice—against my Poliwhirl."
He lifted an arm, palm open, an invitation.
"Sha!"
The blades rose again. The promise of the road tugged at it—but being called the weaker one would not stand. It would prove the human wrong first.
"Good. Then let's make it a capture match."
Scyther's posture sharpened. It had heard him. Understood.
"Poliwhirl—no holding back. Show it what a fight is, not just 'rush in and chop.'"
"Yobo!"
Poliwhirl dropped its pack and rolled its shoulders. Time to end this.
"Scyther's edge is speed," Reiji said, steady and low. "Open with Mud Shot. Slow it down."
"Yobo."
He couldn't let Scyther stack boosts. If it got rolling, Poliwhirl would have to weather the storm.
"Here it comes. Use the trunks for cover—Mud Shot!"
Scyther blurred—Quick Attack into Agility, blades flashing.
Poliwhirl sprang—Waterfall steps to slip behind a trunk.
Shh-shh—shh!
The blades ripped through with Fury Cutter, felling the whole tree and exposing the frog.
Pfft—pfft—pfft!
Three bursts of muck met Scyther mid-lunge, splattering across its face.
Poliwhirl's glove crackled cold. Ice Punch came over the top.
Scyther knew the pattern—Mud Shot, then Ice Punch—and it respected the power. It beat its wings hard, trying to back out, mud still blinding its eyes—
"Sha—!"
Too slow.
The fist landed square. Boom.
Scyther pinwheeled into a trunk and hit, dazed; Poliwhirl split the distance with a pair of quick Waterfall hops.
The mantis hadn't even raised a blade when a second Ice Punch stopped a breath from its nose. Cold breathed into its face. It went still.
(End of Chapter)
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