"That's it," Licht said calmly as Yellow finished healing the fainted Oddish.
A soft green glow faded from Yellow's hands as the Pokémon stirred. Charmander stood beside Licht, arms crossed, watching closely, while Pidgey circled overhead in wide, lazy loops.
The Oddish blinked, pushed itself upright, then quickly scampered back toward the forest. Yellow waved after it with a relieved smile.
"You're learning quite fast," Licht said from behind her.
Yellow turned around, scratching the back of her head. "Haha… that's because you're guiding me, Licht. Otherwise, it would've taken a really long time just to reach this point."
"Don't be modest," Licht replied. "The Power of Viridian isn't like other abilities. It's not something you're born with. Only those with a pure heart can use it and even then, only after being blessed by Viridian itself."
He paused before adding, "Your progress is also tied to how deeply you care for Pokémon."
Yellow listened quietly as Licht continued explaining. He spoke about different kinds of powers Aura, Psychic abilities, and others breaking each down in simple terms. Yellow nodded along, absorbing everything, though her expression slowly shifted from curiosity to mild overload.
Licht noticed and stopped. "Alright, we'll pause here. After lunch, we'll continue."
Yellow let out a small sigh of relief. "Mm, okay. Dody and I will go gather some wood."
She tossed Dody's Poké Ball, and the Doduo popped out with an excited chirp. The two of them quickly headed off into the trees.
As they left, Licht began setting up a small table and unpacking supplies. He moved efficiently, clearly used to this routine.
Nearby, Charmander and Pidgey had started training together. Pidgey swooped down sharply, flapping hard as if issuing a challenge.
["Hey, little bird," Charmander said with a confident smirk, flames flickering at the tip of his tail. "If that's all you've got, you should step down before you hurt yourself."]
["Stop looking down on me, you lizard!" Pidgey shot back, beating its wings harder as it gained altitude.]
Not long after, Yellow and Dody returned with an armful of wood. They slowed when they noticed the two Pokémon facing off, clearly more serious now.
"Um… Licht," Yellow asked carefully, "is this okay? They look like they're actually fighting."
Licht glanced over while stacking the wood. "It's fine. Pidgey wanted to challenge Charmander, and Charmander knows when to hold back."
He lit the wood and hung a pot over the fire, the flames crackling softly beneath it.
Yellow and Dody nodded, settling down to watch. The sounds of boiling water and crackling fire filled the background as Charmander and Pidgey continued their sparring, neither backing down, both learning in their own way.
Soon, the food was ready. At the same time, Charmander and Pidgey finished their sparring, with Charmander emerging as the clear winner.
Licht healed both Pokémon before serving the meal. They ate together in calm silence, the forest unusually peaceful after the earlier tension. Once everyone was done, they packed up and prepared to move on.
As they started walking, Yellow hesitated before speaking.
"Um… Licht, where are we going? If we keep following this road, we'll reach a deeper part of the forest."
Licht nodded. "When I first met Pidgey, I sensed a powerful aura coming from this area. Before we leave the forest, I want to check what it was."
"Was it a Pokémon?" Yellow asked.
"I don't know," Licht replied. "I've never sensed anything like it before. I'm sure it was strong but the next moment, it vanished, like it was never there."
Hearing that, both Yellow and Dody shivered slightly. Yellow forced a weak laugh.
"I-It has to be a Pokémon, right? After all, g-ghosts don't exist…"
"Who said ghosts don't exist?" Licht said with a small grin. "And before you ask, I'm not talking about Ghost-type Pokémon."
"N-No, you're just trying to scare us!" Yellow protested quickly.
Before she could say more, a sharp cutting sound echoed through the forest.
"Ah!" Yellow startled and fell backward, pulling Dody close as they both froze.
Licht's expression sharpened. He closed his eyes briefly, extending his aura.
"A strong presence… but it's fading."
Without hesitation, he took off. "Yellow, follow me. Quickly."
"H-Hey, wait for us!" Yellow scrambled to her feet and ran after him with Dody close behind.
They soon reached a clearing. Licht stopped, and Yellow arrived moments later, panting. What she saw made her freeze.
A Scyther lay on the ground, badly injured. Several other Scyther stood nearby, all wounded but still barely upright.
"D-Did someone attack them?" Yellow asked quietly. "They look terrible…"
"No," Licht said calmly. "They fought that one." He nodded toward the Scyther on the ground. "Most likely, they didn't want him in their group."
"But Pokémon here always live in groups," Yellow said, confused. "Why would they attack their own kind?"
"Things are never that simple, Yellow," Licht replied. "Even within groups, Pokémon follow a leader the strongest one. But what happens when another grows strong enough to challenge that leader?"
"You mean… the Scyther standing with them is the leader?" Yellow asked.
"It seems so," Licht said, stepping forward.
"H-Hey, Licht, it's not safe!" Yellow called out in panic.
The standing Scyther noticed him and tensed, blades raised, ready to fight. Charmander stepped forward instinctively, but Licht lifted a hand, stopping him.
He stared at the Scyther and spoke calmly.
"Leave."
His aura flared.
A blue, ethereal pressure burst outward from him, washing over the clearing. Charmander looked up at Licht with a grin, remembering the first time he had felt this same overwhelming pressure.
The Scyther, on the other hand, froze.
The crushing aura smothered them, fear gripping their hearts. Their bodies refused to move, their instincts screaming danger as absolute power bore down on them.
Then Licht's voice echoed again cold and commanding. "Leave. Now."
The Scyther snapped out of their paralysis and fled instantly, disappearing into the forest without looking back.
The injured Scyther on the ground, barely conscious, stared at Licht with wide eyes. Even in his weakened state, he could sense how powerful this human was.
From behind a bush, Yellow and Dody watched with stunned expressions.
"Wow…" Yellow whispered. "So this is the power of Aura."
Licht released his aura and knelt beside the injured Scyther. His voice softened.
"The fight you were in… it was never fair, was it?"
The Scyther looked away and let out a low growl. He hadn't accepted his defeat. No matter how strong he became, he could never face all of them alone. He had never stood a chance.
Licht watched him for a moment, then spoke again. "Come with us, Scyther. Become part of our group and I'll make sure you grow strong. Strong enough to stand at the top."
He extended his hand, wrapped in a faint, ethereal green aura.
The Scyther, who had been on the verge of losing consciousness, suddenly felt a warm energy flow into his body. The pain faded, his wounds closed, and his strength steadily returned. His breathing stabilized as stamina surged back through him.
He slowly lifted his head and looked at Licht.
For some reason, deep down, he knew this human wasn't lying.
And more than that he felt that this human have no reason to lie at all.
Soon fully healed, Scyther pushed himself up and stood tall. He faced Licht and gave a firm nod.
"Sy… syther… sy!"
[I want to join you. But before that, I want to prove I'm not weak.]
Licht smiled, clearly impressed by the fire still burning in Scyther's eyes. "Alright," he said calmly. "Then show me what you've got."
He glanced to the side and added, "Charmander, it's time."
Charmander stepped forward without hesitation, flames flickering steadily at the tip of his tail as he took his stance.
Above them, Pidgey swooped down and landed on top of Yellow's head. Yellow, now standing off to the side with Dody, blinked in surprise but stayed quiet, watching the upcoming battle with keen eyes.
Scyther move first his body blurred as Double Team activated. In an instant, multiple Scyther images surrounded Charmander, blades flashing from every direction.
Licht said evenly. "Ember. Wide spread."
Charmander inhaled sharply and unleashed a burst of Ember, scattering fireballs in a wide arc. The flames tore through the illusions, bursting them apart one by one. Heat washed over the clearing.
But the real Scyther broke through the smoke.
He shot forward with Quick Attack, crossing the distance in a blink. His blades slashed down
"Block, with Iron Tail." Licht said.
Charmander pivoted, tail hardening with a metallic sheen. The clash rang out sharply as steel met blade. The force skidded Charmander back a step, claws digging into the dirt but he held his ground.
Scyther followed immediately. With a Wing Attack
He leapt upward, wings beating hard as he spun and crashed down with cutting force. The impact sent dust flying.
"Flamethrower. Point-blank."
Charmander's mouth flared white-hot.
A torrent of fire erupted upward, colliding with Scyther mid-attack. The flames forced him back through the air, spinning before he landed in a crouch, steam rising from his exoskeleton.
He wasn't done.
Scyther roared and charged again, blades glowing as he swung with Brick Break, smashing straight through lingering flames. The blow struck Charmander's guard and sent him sliding back this time, carving lines in the dirt.
Yellow gasped from the sidelines. "He hit him…!"
"Charmander's fine," Licht said calmly. "Counter. With Dragon Rage."
Charmander straightened, eyes sharp.
A concentrated blast of deep blue energy surged forward, before Scyther could even react it slammed directly into Scyther's chest. The impact sent him crashing backward across the clearing, rolling before skidding to a stop.
Scyther pushed himself up, breathing hard but his eyes were still burning with resolve.
"Scyther!"
He split again Double Team, then vanished between the images. The real one reappeared behind Charmander in a flash of motion.
"Dragon Tail," Licht ordered instantly.
Charmander spun, tail glowing with draconic energy. The strike caught Scyther mid-attack, hurling him into the air.
"Finish it," Licht said. "Flamethrower."
Charmander didn't hesitate.
The flames engulfed the space where Scyther fell, forcing him to brace mid-air. He crossed his blades in front of him, enduring the fire as long as he could before the force finally overwhelmed him.
Scyther crashed to the ground on one knee, blades digging into the earth to keep himself upright. Smoke curled from his body. His breathing was heavy, uneven but he was still conscious.
Charmander stood tall, chest rising steadily, tail flame strong and unwavering.
Licht raised a hand.
"That's enough."
Charmander relaxed immediately, stepping back without protest.
Scyther remained kneeling for a moment longer… then slowly stood. He looked at Charmander, then at Licht. There was no anger in his eyes only acknowledgment.
He lowered his blades.
"Sy… syther." [I lost.]
Licht met his gaze. "And you fought well."
From the sidelines, Yellow finally let out the breath she'd been holding.
Charmander glanced back at Scyther and gave a confident grin.
"You wanted to prove you weren't weak," Licht continued. "You already did."
He reached into his belt and pulled out a Poké Ball. "If you choose to come with us, you'll grow stronger. Strong enough that no one can push you aside again." Licht said.
Scyther looked at the Poké Ball. Then at Licht. Then back at the forest he came from.
After a brief pause, he stepped forward.
"Scyther." Scyther tapped the Poké Ball with the tip of his blade.
A beam of red light burst out, enveloping him completely and was pulled inside. The Poké Ball snapped shut and dropped gently into Licht's palm.
It rocked once. Twice. Then stopped.
Click.
"Did it work…?" Yellow Asked.
Licht felt the stillness in the ball and gave a small nod. "Yeah."
Licht then tossed the Poké Ball into the air.
With a soft pop, Scyther emerged, landing lightly on the ground. He straightened immediately, blades lowered but posture proud as he looked at the group.
Charmander stepped forward first, giving him a confident nod. Pidgey fluttered down from above, circling once before landing nearby, while Dody let out an excited cry and bounced around him.
Yellow smiled warmly. "Welcome to the team, Scyther."
Scyther glanced at each of them in turn. Seeing no hostility only acceptance he relaxed slightly and gave a short, acknowledging sound.
"Syther."
Just like that, he was no longer alone.
-----------
That night, they camped near the clearing.
The fire burned steadily, casting a warm glow over the surrounding trees as everyone settled in. Scyther sat beside Charmander, both facing the flames. Charmander's tail swayed gently, its fire steady and calm. Pidgey perched nearby with its feathers fluffed, while Dody dozed off beside Yellow.
As they ate, Yellow couldn't hold back her curiosity anymore.
"So… Aura," she said, looking at Licht. "Is it something anyone can use? Or is it like the Power of Viridian?"
Licht stirred the fire with a stick. "Aura exists in all living things. Some can feel it, some can train it but only a few truly learn how to use it. Viridian is different. It responds to intent and compassion. Aura responds to will."
Yellow nodded slowly, taking it in. "So… that pressure you used earlier that was Aura?"
"Yes," Licht replied. "Controlled, focused, and restrained."
Yellow glanced at Scyther, who sat quietly beside Charmander. "Do you think Scyther felt it too?"
"He did," Licht said. "That's why he trusted me."
The conversation drifted on from Pokémon, to strength, to countless small topics that filled the quiet night. The forest, once tense and dangerous, now felt calm and still.
Before long, the fire burned low.
They slept beneath the open sky.
Morning came quietly.
Sunlight filtered through the trees as the group packed up their things. Yellow stretched and yawned. "Alright… next stop, Pewter City."
Licht looked once more toward the forest's edge, then turned to the road ahead. "Yeah. Let's go."
With renewed purpose, they left the forest behind and began their journey toward Pewter City stronger, closer, and ready for whatever awaited them next.
Unseen by them, a tiny shadowy figure watched from deep within the trees. The small flame atop its head flickered faintly before it vanished back into the shadows.
At that moment, Licht paused and glanced behind him, toward where the presence had disappeared. Finding nothing, he turned forward again and continued on his journey.